THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINA 


FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 

ALEXANDER  B.  ANDREWS 

Class  of  1893 

TRUSTEE  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY 
FRIEND  OF  THE  LIBRARY 


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A 


M  E M OR  Y 

OF 

WASHINGTON 

COMPRISING 


A  SKETCH  or  ms 


LIFE  and  CHARACTER ; 


AND  T I-I  B 


fatiOTtal  Uwtvmoniald  oj  '3b&4fi6ci* 


ALSO, 


A  COLLECTION  OT 


EULOGIES  and  ORATIONS, 

WITH  A 

COPIOUS  APPENDIX. 


NEWPORT,  R.  I. 

PRINTED  BY  OLIVER  FARNSWORTH, 

i  Boo, 


s 


9  • 


4 


jtized  by  the  Internet  Archive  * 
Cjn  2018  with  funding  from 
University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


https://archive.org/details/memoryofwashingtOOuh 


TO  TI1E  PUBLIC. 


i  0  render  homage  to  that  Character 

o 

which  forms  the  fubjedl  of  the  prcfent  Work , 
w  /Ztf  pride  and  ambition  of  every  true  Amer¬ 
ican.  Congrefs  have  decreed  him  the  nob  left 
honors.  Communities  and  individuals  vie 
with  each  other  in  tejlifying  their  refpecl  and 
veneration  for  fuch  rare  virtue  and  unri¬ 
valled  worth.  And  the  Editor  has  the  plea - 
fare  of  announcing ,  that  this  Volume ,  which 
is  intended  as  a  Tribute  of  Refpecl  to  the 
Memory  of  the  Father  of  our  Country ,  will 
be  found  to  contain  a  copious  variety  of  mat¬ 
ter,  highly  inte refling  and  valuable . 

Should  this  Compilation,  •  which  we 
now  have  the  happinefs  of  offering  to  the 
Public ,  be  favored  with  general  approbation , 
it  is  the  intention  of  the  Editor  to  publifh  a 
Second  Volume  ;  in  which ,  feveral  Eulogies , 
Orations ,  &c.  unavoidably  omitted  in  this , 
and  which  are  judged  really  meritorious — 
together  with  the  invaluable  Political  Le¬ 
gacies  of  WASHING  TON,  will  appear . 

Newport,  July  4  h,  1800. 

Subfcription  papers  for  the  id  Vol¬ 
ume, will  foon  be  forwarded  to  different  parts 
of  the  United  States . 


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■  -'v i k.  ■  i  *<>  Hi' b%*  w4* 


CONTE  N  T  S. 


CHARACTER  of  Wajhlngtorty  * 

Biographical  Sketch  of  the  Life  of  General 
Geo/ge  Wajhingtoiiy 

Gen.  Mar/kali' s  Addrefs  to  Congrefs,  on 
the  report  of  Gen.  Wa/hington  s  death, 

Prefident’s  mcffage  to  Congrefs,  cnclofing 
Col.  Lears  letter,  announcing  the  death 
of  Gen.  Wajbirgion, 

Gen.  MarJbaW s  fecond  addrefs  to  Con¬ 
grefs,  propofing  the  adoption  of  fundry 
refoiutions  for  paying  fuitable  honors 
to  the  memory  of  Gen.  JVaJhington, 

Addrefs  of  condolence  of  the  Houfe  of 
Reprefentatives,  and  the  Prefident’s 
anLver,  - 

Addrefs  of  condolence  of  the  Senate, 

Prefident’s  anfwer, 

Refoiutions  of  Congrefs*  for  perpetuating 
the  memory  of  Gen.  IVa/bington, 

Prefident’s  Orders  to  the  Army,  cii reeling 
funeral  honors  to  be  paid  to  Gen, 
WajhingtMt 

Prefident’s  Orders  to  the  Navy,  directing 
the  ra  >ft  fuitable  manner  of  commemo¬ 
rating  the  death  or  Gen.  JVaJbington, 

General  Orders  from  Maj.  Gen.  Hamilton  s 

Pteftdeni’s  Proclamation,  for  celebrating 
the  2 zd  day  of  February,  i  Sco, 

A  2 


TAGS 

7 

i3 

49 

5® 


5* 

S6 

57 

59 

6.i 

6c 


65 

67 

m 


CONTENTS. 


* 

VI 

Particular  account  of  the  lad  illnefs  and 
death  of  Gen.  Wajhington , 

Wajhington*  b  Funeral, 

PiCfident/s  meflVre  to  Congred,  communi- 
cating  Mis.  W n/h  tag  ton’s  letter,  • 

Maj.  Gan.  Henry  Lee’s  Funeral  Oration, 

Thomas  Paine’s  Eulogy, 

George  R%  Minot’s  Eulogy,  -  » 

George  Blake’s  Mafonic  Eulogy,  - 

Tifoer  Ames’  Oration,  -  •  « 

Extract  from  Rev,  Dr.  Wharton  $  Sermon 
on  the  death  of  General  Wajhington, 

Extra&s  from  the  Funeral  Oration  on  Gen, 
Wajhington ,  pronounced  at  Paris, 

Chara&er  of  Wajhington ,  written  in  London, 

French  intercepted  letter,  written  in  the 
year  1753, 

Defcripticn  of  Mount  Vernon,  the  fuperb 
feat  of  the  late  General  Wajhington ,  - 

W*Jhington\  reply  to  the  Prefident  of  Congrefs, 
on  accepting  his  appointment,  in  1 775, 

Account  of  a  plot,  which  was  meditated 
for  affaflinaung  General  Wajhington ,  in 
the  year  1776,  - 

Extraft  fr  m  General  Wajhington  s  Speech, 
when  fi  d  eleCled  Prefident  of  the  Unit¬ 
ed  States,  - 

General  Wajhington* s  letter  of  acceptance, 
as  Cv'mrnander  in  Chief  of  the  Amer¬ 
ican  Armies,  in  1798,  r 

Ex'raCK  from  General  Wajhington *8  Lad 
Wiil  and  Tcila m ent. 


JKiz  kJKs  *AfCfe  tJKjLiJKjs 


CHARACTER 

OF 


WASHINGTON. 

WRITTEN  IN  1 798» 


BY  AN  AMERICAN. 


•  J3qES  the  proftitute  page  of 
hiftory  glow  with  the  enthufiaftic  euiogia 
on  the  characters  of  tyrants,  who  have  only 
revelled  in  a  Court,  or  of  conquerors,  who 
have  only  (laughtered  in  the  held  ?  And 
fhall  even  the  impartial  portraitift  reft  in 
apathetic  torpidity,  and  {lumber  in  crimi¬ 
nal  filence,  while  our  American  Fab i us 
lives,  and  aftonifhes  the  world  with  the 
plenitude  of  his  virtue  and  his  greatnefs  ? 
Are  the  characters  of  a  Sidney ,  of  a  Pitt7 
and  of  a  Fox,  configned  to  immortality  by 
the  nervous  eloquence  of  their  zealous  and 
partial  countrymen,  and  fhall  not  an  hum¬ 
ble  tribute  of  juftice  be  rendered  to  the  man 
of  the  people,  whofe  perfon  is  beloved  by 
his  fellow-citizens,  whofe  name  is  revered 
by  the  Nations  of  the  earth,  and  whofe 


3 


MEMORT  o. t 


fituation  is  the  envy  of  even  the  monarch 
himfelf,  when  feated  fuperb  on  his  throne 

of  empire. 

% 

WASHINGTON  is  equally  majeflic 
in  mein,  dignified  in  merit  and  exalted  in 
fame.  While  the  manly  and  augufl  firm- 
nefs  of  his  deportment  and  manners  po¬ 
tently  characterize  the  foldier  and  the  hero, 
their  graceful  eafe  and  elegance  befpeak 
the  man  of  fafhion  and  confummate  polite- 
nefs.  His  opennefs  and  unaffeCted  affabili¬ 
ty  feem  to  invite  an  acquaintance,  by  ren¬ 
dering  accefs  eafy,  and  inter courfe  delight¬ 
ful. 

Though  he  dart  not  from  his  eye  the 
vengeful  fire,  nor  bear  on  his  brow  the 
haughty  defiance  of  the  inexorable  Achilles , 
yet  is  his  countenance  marked  with  the 
calm  intrepidity  of  the  noble  Heflor ,  and 
the  fuperior  (lability  of  the  youthful  Patro - 
But  notwithstanding  his  whole  afpeCl 
pronounces  him  the  Hero  formed  to  rufh 
fearlefs,  yet  terrible,  through  the  rude 
temped  of  war,  and  to  ride  triumphant  in 
the  gilded  car  of  conquefl  ;  yet  do  the  rnild- 
nefs  and  benignity  of  his  countenance  de¬ 
clare  him  more  fupremely  bleft  in  the  kin- 


WASHING  TON. 


*9 

dred  funfhine  of  public  harmony  and  peace. 
That  this  is  indeed  the  true  difpofition  of 
our  Patriot  and  Hero,  we  learn  not  from 
his  countenance  alone,  for  the  uniform  ten¬ 
or  of  his  public  conduct  proclaims  that  his 
fupreme  delight  is  to  cultivate  with  afliduity 
and  care,  the  tender  and  precarious  olive, 
rather  than  to  Hep  fuperb  and  terrible  be¬ 
neath  the  fliadow  of  the  laurels  of  glory. 

Though  his  features, whenindividual- 
ly  examined,  be  neither  elegant,  delicate 
nor  fine,  yet  when  viewed  in  conjuu&ion, 
and  confidered  in  their  compofite  refult, 
they  certainly  give  birth  to  an  unequivocal 
perception  of  elegant  comlinefs,  and  make 
an  impreffion  fo  permanent  as  never  to  be 
forgotten. 

Though  the  elegance  of  our  Hero 
neigher  eledricates  by  the  divine  fire  of 
Demofihenes ,  nor  captivates  by  the  lefs  flow¬ 
ing  harmony  of  Cicero ,  yet  does  the  ftyle  of 
his  addrefs  rival  that  of  the  Grecian  in  pre¬ 
cision  and  force,  and  that  of  the  illudrious 
Roman  in  elegance  and  dignity. 

Whatever  be  the  fubjed  of  his  in- 
veltigation,  he  always  deliberates  with  the 


MEMORY  op 


/ 


I « 


mo  ft  profound  attention,  and  by  the  wif- 
dom  and  reditude  of  his  decifion,  feldom 
fails  to  iniprefs  convi&ion  and  beget  confi¬ 
dence.  The  evident  utility  and  happy  re¬ 
fill  t  of  his  decifions  on  all  matters  relative 
to  public  policy,  have  ever  furnifhed  the 
ftrongefl  and  moft  unequivocal  teftimony 
of  their  truth  and  julfice. 


In  his  wife  and  happy  choice  of  con¬ 
fidants  and  friends,  he  has  given  to  the 
world  fuch  a  fpecimen  of  thorough  know¬ 
ledge  of  human  nature  as  no  public  charac¬ 
ter  ever  exhibited  before  :  For  in  no  in¬ 
fiance  have  his  friends  ever  forfaken  him  ; 
in  no  infiance  have  his  confidants  ever  be¬ 
trayed  him,  either  while  a  commander  in 
the  field,  or  a  public  officer  in  the  cabinet. 


In  his  invefiigation  of  fubjefis  relative 
either  to  the  interefl  and  policy  of  his  coun¬ 
try,  or  the  complicated  rights  of  nations  in 
general,  he  does  not  appear  to  gain  the  fum- 
mit  of  truth  by  the  flow  and  laborious  Heps 
of  argumentative  arrangement  and  logical 
deduction  ;  but  after  taking  a  general  view 
of  the  point  immediately  in  queftion,  fud- 
denly  bounds  over  every  obftacie  and  difi> 


WASHINGTON. 


a 

ftculty  by  the  power  and  a&ivity  of  an  irre- 
fiftible  genius. 

To  the  foregoing  qualifications  cf  our 
Statefman  and  Hero,  we  may  add,  that  he 
is  himfelf  a  model  in  point  of  morality,  and 
a  friendly  patron  of  religion,  and  piety. 
Neither  the  loud  calls  of  wild  difiipation, 
nor  the  foft  affuafive  accents  of  pleafure 
have  ever  been  able  to  feduce  him  from 
the  paths  of  moral  rectitude,  and  he  is  not 
afhamed  to  mingle  with  his  fellow-citizens, 
and  devoutly  join  them  in  a£ls  of  public 
worfhip  to  the  beneficent  fource  of  the 
univerfe. 

In  this  amiable  and  augufi:  perfonage, 
we  difcover  a  local  concentration  of  thofe 
truly  invaluable  and  fublime  characterises 
which  are  particularly  defigned  to  confii- 
tute  the  aggregate  worth  and  dignity  of 
human  nature  ;  while  on  the  other  hand, 
he  is  happily  exempt  from  thofe  weakneffes 
and  irregularities  fo  deftructive  to  the  bap- 
nefs,  and  fo  humiliating  to  the  pride  of 
felf  adoring  man.  Thus  we  behold  in  the 
Guardian  of  his  country,  the  molt  confu in¬ 
mate  valor,  without  precipitate  rafhnefs — - 
the  utmoft  caution,  without  effeminate  dm- 


MEMORY  op  tsfe. 


%& 

{dity— the  highefl  patience  and  fortitude, 
without  either  apathy  or  indolence — the 
mod:  dilpaffionate  coolnefs,  without  liftlefs 
Inactivity — the  mod  unalterable  firmneis 
and  determined  perfeverance,  without 
blind  and  incorrigible  obftinacy— the  mod 
exquifite  judgment  and  acute  penetration, 
without  the  fupercilious  pride  of  knowl¬ 
edge — and  an  unparalleled  love  of  his  fel¬ 
low  citizens,  without  an  implicit  fubmifhon. 
to  their  eccentric  whims  and  capricious 
irregularities. 

To  conclude,  it  would  indeed  appear 
that  in  the  perfon  of  WASHINGTON, 
nature  and  fortune  had  co-operated  with 
their  utmofl  energy,  to  aflonifh  the  world 
with  a  character  of  goodnefs  and  confurn- 
mate  greatnefs.  As  a  man,  he  has  ever 
been  beloved  by  his  fellow-citizens  at  large  ; 
as  a  General,  he  is  an  exquifite  model  of 
bravery,  tempered  by  prudence,  and  illu¬ 
mined  by  wifdom  ;  and  as  the  Supreme 
Executive  of  the  Union,  he  has  diiplayed 
all  that  public  virtue  and  merit,  neceiTary 
to  render  him  the  pride  of  his  friends,  the 
boaft  of  his  country,  and  the  admiration  of 
the  world. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 


OF 


^eTieral  ftrxi j hi 7t^io?i , 


BY  J.  MORSE,  D.  D. 


rjn 

I  HE  death  of  this  great  man, 
has  rendered  an  account  of  his  life  particu¬ 
larly  defirable.  To  a  nation  whofe  feelings 
feem  to  be  abforbed  by  this  moft  affliding 
event,  whofe  attention  is  chiefly  direfred  to 
the  contemplation  of  the  refplendenr  virtues 
of  the  deceafed  Father  of  his  country,  every 
circumftance  of  his  life  has  become  intereft- 
ing. 

I  have  not  the  vanity  to  a  {fume  to  be 
the  Biographer  of  General  WASHING¬ 
TON.  This  arduous,  honorable,  and  ufe- 
ful  tafk,  is  probably  already  afligned  by 
proper  authority,  to  a  man  competent  to 
its  execution,  and  who  is  already,  or  will, 

B 


*4 


MEMOIiT  of 


be,  in  poffdlion  of  all  the  requiiite  docu¬ 
ments  for  fo  important  a  work.  But  hav¬ 
ing  heretofore  given  to  the  public,  in  a 
work*  defigned  for  their  ufe,  a  brief  fketch 
of  his  life,  I  hope  they  will  not  confider  it 
as  preemption  in  me,  if,  with  a  view  to 
fatisfy,  in  fome  degree,  folicitous  inquiries 
on  the  fubjeft,  and  as  a  humble  tribute  to 
the  memory  of  the  firjl  of  men ,  I  revife  and 
enlarge  this  (ketch,  and  in  an  improved 
foi  nn,  at  this  moment  of  general  feeling, 
offer  it  to  their  perufal. 

Tiie  late  General  WASHINGTON 
was  bom  in  the  parifh  of  Wafhington, 
Weftmoreland  county,  in  Virginia,  Februa¬ 
ry  22,  1732.  He  was  the  third  fon  of  Mr* 
AUGUST INE  WASHINGTON,  a  plant¬ 
er  or  farmer  of  refpeclable  talents,  difliu- 
guifhed  reputation  and  large  eflate  in  Vir¬ 
ginia.  The  anceftors  of  this  gentleman, 
about  the  year  1657,  removed  from  York- 
(hire  in  England  "to  Virginia,  and  fettled  in 
King  George’s  county,  where,  at  the  com¬ 
mencement  of  our  revolution,  the  General 
had  three  brothers  living,  viz.  Samuel, 

*  The  American  Geography, 


WASHINGTON. 


1 5 


John  and  Charles,  all  gentlemen  of  con- 
fiderable  landed  property,  and  a  filler,  the 
wife  of  Col.  Fielding  Lewis,* 

The  General  was  the  fir (l  fruit  of  a 
fecond  marriage.  His  early  education, 
conducted  by  a  private  tutor,  under  the 
direction  of  his  father,  was  fuch  as  favored 
the  production  of  an  athletic  and  vigorous 
body,  and  the  formation  of  a  correct  and 
folid  mind.  Inhaling  a  pure  mountain  air, 
accuflomed  to  the  healthful  occupations  of 
rural  life,  and  to  the  manly  toils  of  the 
chafe,  his  limbs  expanded  to  an  unufual, 
robuft,  but  well  proportioned  and  graceful 
fize,  adapted  to  endure  the  fatigues  of  his 
future  life,  and  to  fultain  the  active  energies 
of  his  noble  foul. 

By  his  tutor  he  was  taught  the  rudi¬ 
ments  of  the  Latin  language,  Englifh  gram¬ 
mar,  and  the  elements  of  the  mathematicks. 
At  the  age  of  ten  years,  his  father  died, 
and  the  charge  of  a  numerous  family  de¬ 
volved  on  his  elded  brother,  Mr.  Lawrence 

*  See  a  letter,  written  at  an  early  period  of  the 
American  Revolution,  by  John  Bell ,  Efq.  of  Mary¬ 
land,  to  a  friend  in  Europe,  and  published  in  the  Maffk- 
chufetts  Magazine,  for  March  1 791, 


i<5 


ME  M  ORT  of 


Wafhingion.  This  brother,  a  young  gentle¬ 
man  of  inoft  promifmg  talents,  had  a  Cap¬ 
tain’s  command  in  the  colonial  troops,  em¬ 
ployed  againd  Carthagena,  under  Admiral 
Vernon .  On  his  return  from  this  expedi¬ 
tion,  he  married  the  daughter  of  the  Hon. 
William  Fairfax ,  of  Belvoir,  and  fettled  on 
his  patrimonial  eflate,  which  he  called 
Mount  Vernon,  in  honor  of  his  Admiral, 
from  whom  he  had  received  many  civilities. 
He  was  afterwards  made  Adjutant  General 
of  the  militia  of  Virginia,  but  did  not  long 
furvive  his  appointment.  He  left  one 
daughter,  who  dying  young,  and  his  fecond 
brother  alfo  having  deceafed  without  ilfue, 
the  General  fucceeded  to  the  family  feat, 
and  to  a  very  confiderable  landed  eflate. 

It  is  a  circumftance  which  ought  not 
to  be  here  omitted,  that,  at  the  age  of 
fifteen,  he  was  entered  a  mid  (hip  man  on 
board  a  Bri'tifh  (hip  of  war  Rationed  on  the 
coad  of  Virginia,  and  his  baggage  prepared 
for  embarkation  ;  but  his  mother,  then  a 
widow,  expreffing  her  reluctance  at  his  en¬ 
gaging  in  that  profefilon,  the  plan  was  aban¬ 
doned. 


WASHINGTON. 


l7 

The  office  of  adjutant  general,  made 
vacant  by  the  death  of  his  brother,  in  con- 
fequence  of  the  extenfive  limits  of  the  pro¬ 
vince,  was  now  divided  into  three  diitricls  ; 
and  the  future  Hero  of  America,  before  he 
had  completed  his  twentieth  year,  began 
his  military  fervice  by  a  principal  appoint¬ 
ment  in  that  department,  with  the  rank  of 
Major. 

When  he  was  little  more  than  twenty 
years  of  age,  an  event  occurred  which  call¬ 
ed  forth  his  great  talents  into  public  notice 
and  exercife.  In  1753,  the  French  from 
Canada,  aided  by  the  Indians,  whom  they 
engaged  for  the  purpofe,  made  inroads 
and  encroachments  upon  the  weftern  fron¬ 
tiers,  along  the  Allegany  and  Ohio  rivers. 
Orders  were  received  from  England,  by  the 
Governor*  and  Council  of  Virginia,  to  re¬ 
pel  by  force  thefe  encroachments.  It  was 
however  thought  a  prudent  preliminary 
Hep,  to  make  an  effort  to  prevent  open  hof- 
tilities,  by  friendly  and  fpirited  remon- 
ftrances  to  the  French,  and  conciliatory 
overtures  to  the  Indians.  Major  WASH- 

*  Lieut,  Governor  Dinwiddle  at  this  time 
adminifteied  the  government* 


IS  MEMORT  02 

INGTON  was  deputed  to  undertake  this 
important  and  perilous  embaffy.  Accord¬ 
ingly  he  was  difpatched  by  the  Governor, 
■with  a  letter  to  the  Commander  in  Chief 
of  the  French  on  the  Ohio,  complaining  of 
the  infra&ions  of  the  treaties  fubfifling  be¬ 
tween  the  two  crowns  ;  and  with  induc¬ 
tions  and  plenary  powers  to  treat  with  the 
Six  Nations  and  other  tribes  of  Weftera 
Indians,  and  to  fecure  their  attachment  to 
England.  He  commenced  his  journey  late 
in  October,  with  about  fifteen  attendants, 
and  endured  the  fatigues,  and  performed 
the  duties  of  his  million,  with  lingular  for¬ 
titude,  induflry,  intelligence  and  addrefs. 
When  he  returned  with  Monfieur  de  St. 
Pie  re’s  anfwer,  and  gave  information  of 
his  fuccefs  in  his  negociations  with  the  In¬ 
dians,  he  received  the  approbation  and 
thanks  of  his  country.  His  journal*  and 
report  to  Governor  Dinwiddle ,  which  were 
pubiiflied  at  the  time,  early  announced  to 
the  world,  that  ftrength  and  corre&nefs  of 
znind,  eafe  and  manlihefs  offlyle,  and  that 

Vhi*  Journal  was  pnblifhed  in  the  Maflachu-r 
fetts  Magazine  tor  June  and  July  1789,  from  a  copy 
ff»t  to  the  w  riter  of  this,  from  his  correfpondent  in 
V  irginia. 


WASHINGTON, \ 


ig 

judgment,  method,  and  accuracy  in  doing 
bufinefs,  which  have  fince  charaderifcd 
him  iii  conducting  more  arduous  affairs. 
His  journal  for  many  years  after,  proved 
of  effential  fervice  to  travellers  into  that 
weFern  wildernefs. 

Notwithstanding  the  remonftran- 
ces  made  by  the  government  of  Virginia  to 
the  French  commander  on  the  Ohio, 
through  Major  WASHINGTON,  hoFile 
operations  in  that  quarter,  were  Fill  con¬ 
tinued,  as  part  of  a  meditated  plan  of  gene¬ 
ral  attack  upon  the  then  Britifh  colonies. -j- 
In  this  Fate  of  things,  orders  were  received 
from  the  mother  country,  for  the  colonies 
to  unite,  and  prepare  to  defend  themfelves. 
The  Aflembly  of  Virginia  took  the  lead  ; 
and  early  in  the  year  1754,  voted  a  fum  of 
money  for  the  public  fervice,  and  agreed  to 
raife  a  regiment  of  400  men  for  the  defence 
of  the  frontiers  of  that  colony.  Mr.  Fry , 
one  of  the  profeffors  of  the  College  of 
William  and  Mary,  was  appointed  Colonel 
of  this  regiment,  and  Major  WASHING¬ 
TON,  then  about  twenty-three  years  of 
age,  received  thecommiifion  of  Lieutenant- 


f  Se %  Note  (A)  m  the  Appendix, 


20 


MEMORY  of 


Colonel.  Col.  Fry  died  fhortly  after  hig 
appointment,  and  left  his  regiment  and 
rank  to  the  fecond  in  command. 

Col.  WASHINGTON  now  was  inde¬ 
fatigable  in  his  efforts  to  form  his  regiment, 
to  effablifh  magazines,  and  open  roads  fo 
as  to  pre-occupy  the  advantageous  pod  at 
the  confluence  of  the  Allegany  and  Mo- 
nongahela  rivers  (now  Pittfburg)  which  he 
had  recommended  for  that  purpofe,  in  his 
report  the  preceding  year.  Impreffed  with 
the  neceffity  of  expedition  in  accomplifhing 
this  important  object,  without  waiting  for 
a  detachment  of  independent  regulars,  and 
fome  companies  of  provincials  from  the 
neighboring  colonies,  who  were  expelled 
to  join  him,  he  commenced  his  march  in 
the  month  of  May. 

On  his  way,  at  a  place  called  Red 
Stone,  he  met  a  ffrong  party  of  the  French 
and  Indians,  which  he  engaged  and  routed 
after  killing  and  capturing  fifty  of  the  ene¬ 
my.  Among  the  prifoners  was  the  cele¬ 
brated  Monf.  de  la  Force,  and  two  other 
officers,  from  whom  Col.  WASHINGTON 
received  intelligence,  that  the  French  forces 


WASHINGTON. 


2r 


on  the  Ohio  confided  of  upwards  of  ioo^ 
regulars,  and  feveral  hundred  Indians,  and 
that  they  had  already  erected  a  fort  at  the 
pod  he  had  intended  to  occupy,  which 
they  called  Fort  du  Quefiie.  Upon  this 
intelligence,  lie  took  his  dation  with  his  lit¬ 
tle  army  at  a  place  called  Great  Meadows, 
for  the  convenience  of  forage  and  fupplies, 
where  he  built  a  temporary  dockade,  to 
cover  his  dores,  and  named  it  fort  Nccejjity . 
Here  he  waited  the  arrival  of  expecled  fuc- 
cours  from  New-York  and  Pennfylvania, 
but  was  joined  by  Capt.  McKay’s  regulars, 
only, which  increafed  his  force  to  about  400 
effective  men.  He  remained  unmoleded 
till  July,  when  he  received  information 
from  his  fcouts  that  a  confiderable  party  of 
the  enemy  was  approaching  to  reconnoitre 
his  pod  ;  he  fallied  and  defeated  them  ;  but 
in  return  was  attacked  by  an  army  of 
French  and  Indians,  computed  to  have  been 
1500  drong,  under  the  command  of  the 
Sicur  de  Villiers.  The  little  garrifon  made 
a  gallant  defence,  of  feveral  hours,  during 
which  they  killed  nearly  200  of  the  enemy, 
and  more  than  one  third  of  their  own  num¬ 
ber  were  either  killed  or  wounded.  The 


22 


MEMORY  op 


French  commander,  difcouraged  by  fuch 
bold  oppofition,  propofed  a  parley,  which 
terminated  in  an  honorable  capitulation, 
Col.  WASHINGTON,  at  the  head  of  his 
troops,  quitted  the  fort  with  the  honors  of 
war,  agreeable  to  the  articles  of  capitula¬ 
tion,  and  carried  with  him  his  military 
(lores,  and  baggage  ;  but  the  French  com¬ 
mander  either  unable  or  unwilling,  did  not 
rellrain  his  Indian  auxiliaries  from  plun¬ 
dering  the  provincials,  and  making  a  c Gu¬ 
ilder  able  daughter  of  men,  cattle  and  hord¬ 
es.  After  this  difafter,  the  remains  of  the 
Virginia  regiment  returned  to  Alexandria 
to  recruit. 

The  Britifh  ambaffador  at  the  court  of 
Verfailles  was  directed  to  remonflrate  to  the 
French  government  againft  the  breach  of 
the  articles  of  capitulation  above  mention¬ 
ed  ;  and  this  may  be  confidered  as  the  period 
when  the  French  court  began  to  unmaik, 
and  to  difcover  that  the  conduct  of  its  gov¬ 
ernors  and  offi:crs  in  America,  was  in 
conformity  to  their  orders.  After  this, 
warlike  preparations  on  the  frontiers  were 
made  by  the  French  with  redoubled  aCtivi- 


WASHINGTON. 


tv,  and  were  continued  through  the  winter 
of  1754,  and  the  fpring  of  1755. 

During  this  period  the  government 
of  Virginia  raifed  an  additional  number  of 
troops,  who  built  fort  Cumberland,  and 
fort  Loudon,  and  formed  a  camp  at  Wills 
Creek,  a  fituation  convenient  for  the  an¬ 
noyance  of  the  enemy  on  the  Ohio.  In  all 
thefe  fervices,  and  particularly  in  the  erec¬ 
tion  of  the  forts,  Col.  WASHINGTON 
was  actively  and  principally  employed. 

At  this  time,  May  17 55,  Gen.  Brad- 
dock  arrived  at  Alexandria,  from  England, 
with  two  veteran  regiments  from  Ireland, 
to  which  were  to  be  joined  the  independent 
and  provincial  corps  in  America,  and  at  the 
head  of  this  army  he  was  to  repel  the  inva¬ 
ders  of  the  colonial  frontiers.  Upon  a 
royal  arrangement  of  rank,  by  which  “  no 
officer  who  did  not  immediately  derive  his 
commiffion  from  the  king,  could  command 
one  who  did,”  Col.  WASHINGTON  re- 
figned  his  commiffion,  and  as  a  Volunteer, 
and  extra  Aid  de  Camp,  joined  General 
Braddock.  The  army  marched  diredly  for 
Fort  du  Quefne,  by  the  route  of  Wills 


^4 


MEMORT  cf 


Creek.  No  perfon  was  fo  well  acquainted 
with  this  route  as  Col.  WASHING  I  ON, 
and  no  other  officer  in  the  colony,  at  tnis 
time,  fuftained  fo  high  and  well  eftabliffied 
a  military  reputation;  and  had  his  counfel 
been  fufficiently  regarded,  there  is  reafon  to 
believe  the  misfortunes  which  followed 
would  have  been  prevented.  In  his  route, 
Gen.  Braddock  unexpectedly,  and  of  confe- 
quence,  unpreparedly,  met  a  large  body  of 
the  enemy.  Without  detailing  minutely  the 
particulars  of  the  hard  fought  and  bloody 
battle  which  enfued,  and  which  terminated 
in  the  total  defeat  of  Braddock's  army, 
which  confided  of  2000  regular  Britifh  for¬ 
ces,  and  nearly  800  provincials.  I  {hall  on¬ 
ly  fay,  in  the  words  of  the  refpeCtable  and 
correCt  writer,*  to  whom  I  am  indebted 
far  many  of  the  faCts  contained  in  this 
{ketch,  that,  <c  it  is  allowed  on  all  fides, 
that  the  haughty  behavior  of  Gen.  Brad - 
dock ,  his  high  contempt  of  the  provincial 
officers  and  foldiers,  and  his  difdainful  ob- 
ftinacy  in  rejecting  their  advice,  were  the 
caufes  of  this  fatal  difafter.  With  what  re- 
folution  and  fteadinefs  the  provincials,  and 


*  John  Bell,  Efcp 


WASHING  TON 


25 


their  gallant  commander  (Col.  WASH¬ 
INGTON)  behaved  on  this  trying  ccca- 
fion,  and  in  covering  the  confufed  retreat 
of  the  army,f  let  every  Britiffi  officer  and 
foldier  confefs,  who  were  refcued  from 
flaughter  on  that  calamitous  day  by  their 
valor  and  conduct. 

To  this  information  it  is  proper  to add, 
that  Col.  WASHINGTON  was  the  only 

<0 

Officer,  whofe  duty  obliged  him  to  be  on 
horfeback  during  the  battle,  who  was  not 
either  killed  or  wounded.  Providence 
feemed  to  referve  him  to  fave  from  utter 
deftrudlion  the  wreck  of  a  defeated  army. 
Having  fecured  their  p adage  over  the  ford 
of  the  Monongahela,  and  finding  the  ene¬ 
my  did  not  purfue  their  victory,  Colonel 
WASHINGTON  haftened  to  concert  mea- 
fures  for  their  further  fecurity,  with  Col. 
Dunbar  who  had  remained  fome  diflance  in 
the  rear,  with  the  fecond  divifion  of  the  ar¬ 
my  and  the  heavy  baggage.  To  effedt  this, 
he  travelled  with  two  guides,  all  night, 
through  a  dreary  wildernefs,  notwithftand- 

t  See  Capt.  Orme's  Letter  to  Gov.  Dinwiddle, 
and  alfo  the  other  accounts  of  that  day, 

c 


MEMORT  of 


lag  the  fa  iguesof  the  preceding  day,  and 
the  enfeebled  (late  of  his  health,  having  but 
imperfectly  recovered  from  ficknefs.  So 
exhaufted  was  he  in  the  morning,  that  he 
was  obliged  to  be  fupported  with  cufhions 
on  his  horfe.  The  public  accounts  of  this 
affair,  both  in  England  and  America,  were 
not  parfimonions  of  applaufe  for  the  effen- 
tial  fervice  he  rendered  his  country  on  fo 
trying  an  occahon. 

Not  long  after  this  time,  the  regula¬ 
tion  of  rank,  which  had  been  fo  injurious 
to  the  Colonial  officers  was  changed  to  their 
fatisfaction,  in  confequence  of  the  difcon- 
tent  of  the  officers  and  the  remonftrance  ol 
Col.  WASHINGTON  ;  and  the  govern¬ 
ment  of  Virginia,  impreffed  with  a  due 
fenfe  of  his  merits,  gave  him,  in  a  new  and 
extenfive  commiilion,  the  command  of  all 
the  troops  railed,  and  to  be  raifed  in  that  - 
colony.  This  commiilion  he  held,  with 
fignal  credit  to  himfelf,  and  advantage  to 
his  country,  till  1759,  when,  tranquillity 
being  reffored  on  the  frontiers  of  the  mid¬ 
dle  colonies,  and  his  ccnflitution  having 
become  extremely  enfeebled  and  endanger¬ 
ed  by  an  inveterate  pulmonary  complaint* 


WASHING  TON. 


he  refigned  his  military  appointment.  Im¬ 
partial  hiflorians  will  do  jufticeto  his  char¬ 
acter,  in  detailing  the  judicious  plans  he 
fuggefted,  and  the  fyflem  he  purfued  for 
defending  the  frontiers,  and  his  perfonal 
hazards,  bravery,  and  achievements  previ- 
oiifly  to  the  period  of  his  refignation.  Nor 
are  authentic  documents  wanting  to  fhew 
the  tender  regret  which  the  Virginia  line 
cxpreifed  at  parting  with  their  commander, 
and  the  affectionate  regard  which  He  en¬ 
tertained  for  them. 

From  this  period,  till  the  year  1775, 
he  cultivated  the  arts  of  peace.  Soon  after 
he  refigned  his  commiflion  in  1759,  his 
health  having  been  gradually  re-eftablifhed* 
he  married  the  prefent  Mrs.  WaJhington9 
then  Mrs.  Martha  Cuftis*  an  amiable  and 
beautiful  young  widow,  cc  with  whom  he 
had  a  fortune  of  twenty  thoufand  pounds 
fterling  in  her  own  right,  be  Tides  her  dower 
in  one  of  the  principal  eftates  in  Virginia,” f 
and  fettled,  as  a  Planter  and  Farmer,  at 

*  General  and  Mrs.  Wajhington  were  both 
born  in  the  fame  year. 

d  Bell’s  Letter,, 


MEMORY  of 


'  m 

fsS 

his  favorite,  delightful  feat,  the  far  famed 
Mount  Vernon.  | 

General  WASHINGTON  was  the 
larged  landholder,  probably  in  the  United 
States.  Befides  the  large  eflates  which 
came  into  his  poffedion  by  his  marriage, 
and  by  the  death  of  Mrs.  Wajhingior? s  only 
daughter  (amounting  in  the  whole  to  thirty 
thoufand  pounds  derling)  he  owned  large 
trails  of  excellent  land  in  different  parts  of 
the  date,  which,  in  early  life,  while  he  was 
Surveyor,  he  had  taken  up  for  himfelf,  or 
purchafed  of  officers  who  had  lands  allot¬ 
ted  them  for  their  fervices.  He  alfo  made 
large  additions  to  his  edate  at  Mount  Ver¬ 
non, which,  in  1787,  confided  of  about  nine 
thoufand  acres,  under  his  own  cultivation. 
His  income  from  his  edates  was  reckoned, 
in  1776,  to  amount  at  lead  to  four  thoufand 
f  ounds  Jlerling  a  year  ;  and  it  was  then  fup- 
pofed  they  would  have  fold  for  more  than 
one  hundred  and fixty  thoufand  pounds *  of  the 
fame  money,  equal  to  upwards  of  666,000 
dollars.  There  can  be  no  doubt,  that  un* 

f  Sec  Note  (  B  )  in  the  Appendix, 

*  See  Bell's  Letter, 


WASHINGTON. 


29 


del*  his  fuperintendence  and  admirable 
management,  his  property  has  fmce  much 
increafed. 

General  WASHINGTON  was  not 
lefs  diftinguifhed  as  a  Farmer ,  than  as  a 
Warrior  and  a  St  at  cf man .  He  undertook 
every  thing  on  a  great  fcale,  proportioned 
to  his  great  and  comprehenfive  mind  ;  and 
his  exaCt  and  exemplary  method  in  tranf- 
acting  all  his  bufinefs,  enabled  him  to  ac- 
complifh  more,  and  in  a  more  perfect  and 
advantageous  manner,  than  perhaps  any 
other  man  of  the  age.  He  has  raifedfeven 
thoufand  bufhels  of  wheat,  and  ten  thou- 
land  of  Indian  corn  in  one  year,  on  his 
eflate  at  Mount  Vernon.  In  a  fucceeding 
year  he  railed  two  hundred  lambs,  fowed 
twentv-feven  bufhels  of  flaxfeed,  and  plant- 
more  than  feven  hundred  bufhels  of  pota¬ 
toes.  At  the  fane  time  he  had  manufactur¬ 
ed  under  his  eye,  by  his  domeftics,  linen 
and  woolen  cloth  fufficient  for  his  houfe- 
hold,  which  confided  of  nearly  a  thoufand 
fouls.  His  land,  defigned  for  cultivation, 
he  had  enclofed  in  lots  of  equal  dimenfions, 
and  crops  afligned  to  each  for  many  years. 
On  Saturday  in  the  afternoon,  every  week, 

C  2 


MEMORT  o* 


he  was  accuftomed  to  receive  reports  from 
all  his  ovsrfeers,  (and  thefe  reports,  I  have 
been  informed,  were  received  and  attended 
to,  conftantly,  during  the  periods  of  his 
Command  of  our  rmies,  and  his  Prefiden- 
cy  of  the  United  States)  which  reports  were 
correctly  regiftered  in  books  kept  for  the 
purpofe  ;  fo  that,  at  the  end  of  the  year, 
he  was  able  accurately  to  afeertain  the  quan¬ 
tity  of  labor  bellowed  on  each  of  the  feveral 
lots,  and  the  amount  of  the  produce.  Or¬ 
der  and  economy  were  eftablilhed  in  all  the 
departments  within  and  without  doois. 

Agriculture  was  his  favorite  em¬ 
ployment,  and  he  purfued  it  in  a  manner 
worthy  of  hlmfelf.  One  great  objedl  which 
he  ever  kept  in  view,  was  to  introduce  or 
augment  the  culture  of  thofe  articles  which 
he  conceived  would  be  the  molt  beneficial 
in  their  confequences  to  his  country.  Up¬ 
on  this  principle,  he  early  gave  up  planting 
tobacco,  and  went  altogether  into  the  fann¬ 
ing  bufmefs.  To  acquire  and  communi¬ 
cate  practical  knowledge,  he  correfponded 
with  the  celebrated  Mr.  Arthur  Young  of 
England,  and  with  many  agricultural  gen¬ 
tlemen  in  this  country.  As  improvement 


WASHINGTON. 


was  known  to  be  his  object,  he  was  in  the 
habit  of  receiving  rare  feeds,  and  refults  of 
new  projects  from  every  quarter.  He  like- 
wife  made  copious  notes,  relative  to  his 
own  experiments,  the  (late  of  the  feafons, 
the  nature  of  foils,  of  which  he  was  an 
excellent  judge,  and  the  effedls  of  different 
kinds  of  manure,  and  fuch  other  topics,  as 
tended  to  the  improvement  of  agriculture. 

While  he  was  thus  ufefully  occupied 
as  a  Farmer,  and  giving  to  all  around  him, 
and  to  pofterity,  a  noble  example  of  induft- 
ry,  economy,  and  good  management,  he 
was,  at  the  fame  time,  affiduous  in  ferving 
the  State.  From  the  time  he  left  the  ar« 
my,  in  1759,  until  the  year  1774,  he  was 
conflantly  a  Member  of  AfTembly  ;  he  was 
alfo  a  Magiftrate  of  the  county  in  which 
he  lived,  and  a  Judge  of  the  Court,  He 
was  elected  a  Delegate  to  the  nrft  Congrefs 
in  1774,  and  to  that  which  axTembled  the 
year  following. 

It  was  while  he  was  a  Member  of  this 
AfTembly  of  the  wife  ft  men  in  America, 
that  he  was,  on  the  15th  of  June  1 775,  by 
their  unanimous  vote,  appointed  Com- 


MEMORY  of 


3* 

mander  in  Chief  of  all  the  forces  raifed,  or 
to  be  raifed  for  the  defence  of  the  then 
colonies.  He  accepted  his  appointment  \ 
■with  what  diffidence  and  difintereftednefs, 
his  reply  to  the  Prefident  of  Congrefs-, 
when  his  appointment  was  announced  to 
him,  witneffes.*  tc  It  was  a  fortunate 
circumftance,  attending  his  election,  that 
it  was  accompanied  with  no  competition, 
and  followed  by  no  envy.  That  fame  gen¬ 
eral  impulfe  on  the  public  mind,  which  led 
the  Colonifb  to  agree  in  many  other  par¬ 
ticulars,  pointed  to  him  as  the  mod  proper 
perfon  for  prsfiding  over  the  military  ar¬ 
rangements  of  America.  Not  only  Con- 
grefs,  but  the  inhabitants  in  the  eaft  and 
wed,  in  the  north  and  the  fouth,  as  well 
before  as  at  the  time  of  embodying  a  Con¬ 
tinental  Army,  were  in  a  great  degree 
unanimous  in  his  favor.”f  “  The  very 
high  eftimation  he  flood  in  for  integrity 
and  honor,  his  engaging  in  the  caufe  of  his 
country  from  fentiment  and  a  convi&ion  of 
her  wrongs  ;  his  moderation  in  politics, 
his  extenfive  property,  and  his  approved 

*  See  Note  (  C  )  in  the  Appendix, 
f  Ramsay’s  Hift.  Revc-1,  Yol.  I.  p,  192, 


WASHINGTON. 


35 


abilities  as  a  Military  Commander,  were 
motives  which  obliged  the  choice  of  Ame¬ 
rica  to  fall  upon  him.5,f 

We  have  now  arrived  at  a  period  in 
the  life  of  this  great  man,  fince  which,  the 
events  of  it  have  been  more  confpicuous 
and  more  generally  interefting  ;  and  it  is 
the  lefs  neceffary  to  particularize  them  in 
this  place,  becaufe  they  have  been  often 
detailed,  and  are  familiar  to  aimed  every 
perfon.  I  will  only  obferve,  that  Genera! 
WASHINGTON  arrived  at  the  camp  in 
Cambridge,  and  took  the  Supreme  Com¬ 
mand  of  the  American  army,  July  2,  1776s 
Ci  He  was  received  with  that  heart  felt  ex¬ 
ultation,  which  fuperior  merit  alone  can  in- 
infpire,  after  having,  in  his  progrefs  through 
the  States,  been  honored  with  every  mark 
of  affedlion  and  edeem  which  they  conceiv¬ 
ed  were  due  to  the  man,  whom  the  whole 
continent  looked  up  to  for  fafety  and  free¬ 
dom.' 

It  is  hoped  poderity  will  be  taught 
in  -what  manner  he  transformed  an  undif- 
ciplined  body  of  peafantry  int#  a  regular 

X  ibid. 


f  Bell, 


MEMORY  c* 


34 

army  of  foldiers.  Commentaries  on  his 
campaigns  would  undoubtedly  be  highly 
interefling  and  inTru&ive  to  future  genera¬ 
tions.  The  conduct  of  the  hrfl  campaign, 
in  compelling  the  Britilh  troops  to  abandon 
Bo  Ton  by  a  bloodiefs  victory,  will  merit  a 
minute  narration.  But  a  volume  would 
fcarcely  contain  the  mortifications  he  ex¬ 
perienced,  and  the  hazards*  to  which  he 
was  expofed  in  1 776  and  1777,  in  con¬ 
tending  againT  the  prowefs  of  Britain, 
with  an  inadequate  force.  His  good  defiiny 
and  confummate  prudence,  prevented  want 
of  fuccefs  from  producing  want  of  confi¬ 
dence  on  the  part  of  the  public  ;  For  want 
of  fuccefs  is  apt  to  lead  to  the  adoption  of 
pernicious  counfels  through  the  versatility 
of  the  people,  or  the  ambition  of  dema¬ 
gogues.  Shortly  after  this  period,  fprang 
up  the  only  cabal  that  ever  exiTed  during 
his  public  life,  to  rob  him  of  his  reputation 
and  command.  It  proved  as  impotent  in 
effect,  as  it  was  audacious  in  '  dehgn.  In 
the  three  fucceeding  years,  the  germ  of 
difcipline  unfolded  ;  and  the  refources 
©f  America  having  been  called  into  co-ope» 


5  See  Note  (  D  )la  the  Appendix® 


WA  S  RING  TO  N. 


'J  f? 
0  0 

ration  with  the  land  and  naval  forces  of 
France,  produced  the  glorious  conclufion 
of  the  campaign  in  1781.  From  this  time 
the  gloom  began  to  difappear  from  our  po¬ 
litical  horizon,  and  the  affairs  of  the  Union 
proceeded  in  a  meliorating  train,  until  a 
peace  was  mod  ably  negociated  by  our  Ara« 
baffadors,  in  Europe,  in  1783. 

No  perfon,  who  had  not  the  ad¬ 
vantage  of  being  prefent  when  General 
WASHINGTON  received  the  intelligence 
of  peace,  and  who  did  not  accompany  him 
to  his  domeftic  retirement,  can  defcribe  the 
relief  which  that  joyful  event  brought  to  his 
laboring  mind,  or  the  fupreme  fatisfadtion 
with  which  he  withdrew  to  private  life. 
From  his  triumphal  entry  into  New- York, 
upon  the  evacuation  of  that  city  by  the  B'rit- 
ifh  army,  to  his  arrival  at  Mount  Vernon, 
after  the  refignation  of  his  cotnmiffion  to 
Congrefs,  feflive  crowds  impeded  his  paf- 
fage  through  all  the  populous  towns  ;  the 
devotion  of  a  whole  people  purfued  him 
with  prayers  to  Heaven  for  bleffings  on  his 
head,  while  their  gratitude  fought  the  moft 
expreffive  language  of  manifefting  itfelf  to 
him  as  their  common  father  and  beuefadlor* 


MEMORT  or 


When  he  became  a  private  citizen,  he  had 
the  unufual  felicity  to  find  that  his  native 
State  was  among  the  mofl  zealous  to  do 
juflice  to  his  merits  ;  and  that  flronger  de- 
monflrations  of  affectionate  efteem  (if  poffi- 
ble)  were  given  by  the  citizens  of  his  neigh¬ 
borhood,  than  by  any  other  description  of 
men  on  the  continent.  But  he  conftantly 
declined  accepting  any  compenfation  for  his 
fervices  or  provifion  for  the  augmented  ex- 
penfes  incurred  in  confequence  of  his  pub¬ 
lic  employment,  although  propofais  were 
made  him  in  the  mofl  delicate  manner,  par¬ 
ticularly  by  the  States  of  Virginia  and  Penn* 
iylvania. 

The  virtuous  fimplicity  which  diflin* 
guifhed  the  private  life  of  General  WASH¬ 
INGTON,  though  lefs  known  than  the 
dazzling  fplendor  of  his  military  achieve¬ 
ments,  is  not  lefs  edifying  in  example,  or 
worthy  the  attention  of  his  countrymen. 
The  confpicuous  character  he  adted  on  the 
theatre  of  human  affairs,  the  uniform  dig¬ 
nity  with  which  he  fuftained  his  part  amidfl 
difficulties  of  the  moil  difcouraging  nature, 
and  the  glory  of  having  arrived  through 
them  at  the  hour  of  triumph,  made  many 


WASHINGTON 1 


bffieial  and  literary  perfons,  on  both  fides 
of  the  ocean,  ambitious  of  a  correfpondence 
with  him.  Thefe  correfpondencies  una¬ 
voidably  engroffed  a  great  portion  of  his 
time  ;  and  the  communications  contained 
in  them,  combined  with  the  numerous  pe¬ 
riodical  publications  and  newspapers  which 
he  perufed,  rendered  him,  as  it  were,  the 
focus  of political  intelligence  for  the  new  world* 
Nor  were  his  converfations  with  well-in¬ 
formed  men  lefs  conducive  to  brine;  him 

o 

acquainted  with  the  various  events  w  hich 
happened  in  different  countries  of  theglobe. 
Every  foreigner  of  diflindtion,  who  travel¬ 
ed  in  America,  made  it  a  point  to  vifit  him. 
Members  of  Congrefs  and  other  dignified 
psrfonages  did  not  pafs  his  houfe,  without 
calling  to  pay  him  their  refpects.  As 
another  fource  of  information  it  may  be 
mentioned,  that  many  literary  produ&ions 
were  fent  to  him  annually  by  their  authors 
in  Europe  ;  and  that  there  was  fcarcely  one 


work  written  in  America  on  any  art, 
fcience,  or  fuhjecf,  which  did  not  leek  his 
protection,  or  which  was  not  offered  to  him 
as  a  token  of  gratitude.  >  Mechanical  in¬ 
ventions  were  frequently  fubmitted  to  him 


3* 


MEM  CRT  op 


for  his  approbation,  and  natural  cur’ofi- 
ties  prefented  for  his  invedigation,  But 
the  multiplicity  of  epidolary  applications, 
often  on  the  remains  of  fome  bufnfefs  which 
happened  when  he  was  Commander  in 
Chief;  fometimes  on  fubjetts  foreign  to 
his  fituation,  frivolous  in  their  nature,  and 
intended  merely  to  gratify  the  vanity  of 
the  writers,  by  drawing  anfwers  from  him, 
was  truly  diftrefling  and  almofl  incredible. 
His  benignity  in  anfwering,  perhaps,  in- 
creafed  the  number.  Had  he  not  hufband- 
ed  every  moment  to  the  bed  advantage,  it 
would  not  have  been  in  his  power  to  have 
noticed  the  vad  variety  of  fubje&s  that 
claimed  his  attention. 

In  this  manner  he  fpent  his  time, 
from  the  peace  of  1783,  till  he  was  ele&ed 
a  Member  of  the  Convention  who  framed, 
in  Philadelphia,  in  the  fummer  of  1 787, 
the  prefent  Conditution  of  the  United 
States.  Of  this  Convention  of  fares,  he 
was  chofen  Prefident,  and  with  his  name 
he  has  fandlioned  the  Conditution  of  their 
and  his  country’s  choice. 

When  this  Conditution,  adopted  by 
the  nation,  was  to  be  organized  and  put  iu 


1 


WASHINGTON. 


59 


operation,  by  an  eledlion  of  the  proper  offi¬ 
cers,  the  United  States,  “fteadfaft  in  their 
preference,  with  one  voice  furnmoned  their 
beloved  WASHINGTON,  impraftifed  as 
he  was,  in  the  duties  of  civil  adrniniftra- 
tion,”  to  the  chair  of  government.  He 
heard  their  voice  cc  with  veneration  and 
love,”*  and  with  that  felf  diffidence  and 


modefty,  which  ever  accompany  pre-emi¬ 
nent  merit,  he  obeyed  their  fumrnons.  On 
the  50th  of  April,  1789,  he  was  inaugurat¬ 
ed  President  of  the  United  States,  in 
the  city  of  New-York,  amidft  the  acclama¬ 
tions  of  thoufands  of  fpedhtors.  6;  It  feem- 
ed,  by  the  number  of  witneffbs,”  fays  one, 
who  beheld  the  interefling  feene,  “  to  be  a 
folemn  appeal  to  heaven  and  earth  at  once. 
Upon  the  fu  hjecl  of  this  great  and  good 
man,  I  may  perhaps  be  an  enthufiaft  :  but 
I  confefs,  I  was  under  an  awful  and  reliei- 
ous  periualion,  that  the  gracious  Ruler  of 
the  Univer  e  was  looking  down  at  that  mo¬ 
ment,  with  peculiar  complacency,  oh  an 
aft,  which,  to  a  part  of  his  creatures,  was 
fo  very  important.  Under  this  impreffion, 
when  the  Chancellor  pronounced,  in  a  very 


*  See  Note  (  E  )  n  the  Appendix, 


40 


MEMORY  cs 


feeling  manner,  cc  Long  live  GEORGE 
WASHINGTON,”  my  fen  Ability  was 
wound  up  to  fuch  a  pitch,  that  I  could  do 
no  more  than  wave  my  hat  with  the  red, 
without  the  power  of  joining  in  the  repeat¬ 
ed  acclamations  which  rent  the  air.” 


In  the  autumn  after  his  induction 
into  office,  he  vifited  the  Eaftern  States  ; 
with  how  much  delight  and  advantage  to 
the  people,  and  fatisfa&ion  to  his  own 
mind,  let  the  volume  of  their  addrefles  and 
his  anfwers  teftify. 


With  what  dignity,  wifdcm,  firm- 
nefs,  integrity,and  high  and  general  appro¬ 
bation,  he  performed  the  duties  of  his  mod 
arduous,  elevated,  and  refponfible  office, 
during  his  eight  years  adminidration,  his 
Eulogids  have  eloquently  announced,  and 
Hiftorians  will  record  with  pride  and  admi¬ 
ration.  “  Commencing  his  adminillration, 
what  heart  is  not  charmed  with  the  recol¬ 
lection  of  the  pure  and  wife  principles  an¬ 
nounced  by  himfelf,  as  the  balls  of  his  po¬ 
litical  life.  He  bed  underdood  the  indif- 
foluble  union  between  virtue  and  happinefs, 
between  duty  and  advantage,  between  the 


WASHINGTON. 


genuine  maxims  of  an  honed  and  magnan¬ 
imous  policy,  and  the  folid  rewards  of 
public  profperity  and  individual  felicity  : 
watching  with  unequal  and  comprehenfive 
eye  over  this  great  affemblageof  communi¬ 
ties  and  inrereds,  he  laid  the  foundations  of 
our  national  policy,  in  the  unerring  and  im¬ 
mutable  principles  of  morality,  bafed  on 
religion,  exemplifying  the  pre-eminence  of 
free  government,  by  all  the  attributes  which 
win  the  affections  of  its  citizens,  or  com¬ 
mand  the  refpectof  the  world.”* 


During  his  adminidration  as  our 
Supreme  Executive  Magiftrate,  cc  bis  tal¬ 
ents  and  his  virtues  increafed  with  his  cares. 
Ilis  foul  feemed  not  to  bear  the  limits  of 
office  a  moment  after  the  obligations  of  du¬ 
ty  and  patriotifm  withdrew  their  restraints 
from  his  univerfal  love.  When  the  mif- 
guided  favages  of  the  wildernefs,  after  feel¬ 
ing  his  chadifemenf,  had  fued  for  peace  ; 
he  feemed  to  labor  for  their  happinefs  as  the 
common  reprefen  tative  of  mankind.  In- 
furreClion  was  fo  {truck  at  his  countenance, 
that  it  fled  from  the  {hock  of  his  arms. 
Intrigue  attempted  to  entangle  him  in  her 


MajorGkn.I?.  Lee’s  Funeral  Oration. 


D 


4J 


MEMORT  oP 


d.2 

t 

poifonous  web,  but  hebnrft  it  with  gigantic 
ftrength,  and  crufhed  her  labors.  Anarchy 
looked  out  from  her  cavern,  and  was  dalli¬ 
ed  into  oblivion,  as  we  trull,  forever.  The 
nations  of  Europe  faw  the  wifdom  of  our 
laws,  the  vigor  of  our  meafures,  the  juftice 
of  our  policy,  the  firmnefs  of  our  govern¬ 
ment,  and  acquiefced  in  the  neutrality  of 
cur  ftation.”f 

Twice  ele£led  by  the  unanimous  voice 
of  his  country  to  the  Prefidential  chair, 
when  the  period  for  a  third  election  arrived, 
in  September  1796,  when  the  (late  of  his 
country  was  fuch  that  he  confidered  it  no 
longer  neceffary  for  him  to  facrihce  his  in¬ 
clination  to  his  duty,  he  announced  to  his 
fellow  citizens,  in  an  address  which  will 
be  immortal  as  his  name,  his  determination 
to  retire,  and  requeuing  them  not  to  con- 
fzder  him  as  a  candidate  for  their  future 
fuffrages  *,  thus  preventing  cc  the  anxious 
wifhes  of  an  affectionate  people,  from  add¬ 
in^  a  third  unanimous  teflimonial  of  their 

O 

unabated  confidence  in  the  Man  fo  long 
enthroned  in  their  hearts.”  Having  fpent 
forty-jive  years  of  his  life  in  the  fervice  of 

i  Judge  Minot’s  Eulogy, 


WASHINGTON. 


43 


his  country,  he  ccnfoled  himfclf  with  the 
hope  that  he  was  now  quitting  forever 
4:  the  boundiefs  field  of  public  action,  in- 
cefiant  trouble,  and  high  refponfibility,”  in 
which  he  had  fo  long  afted  a  principal  part  ^ 
but  this  fond  hope  was  not  realized.  He 
had  not  yet  arrived  at  the  pinnacle  of  hu¬ 
man  greatnefs.  One  afcending  ftep  yet 
remained  untaken.  From  March  1797,  to 
July  1798,  he  lived  in  peace,  at  his  belov¬ 
ed  retreat,  difeharging  the  duties  of  a 
private  citizen  with  a  condefceniion  and 
greatnefs  of  mind  peculiar  to  himfelf.  At 
the  latter  period,  u  when  every  thing  we 
hold  dear  and  facredwas  fertoufly  threaten¬ 
ed,”*  the  voice  of  his  countrymen  was  raif- 
ed  to  him,  as  the  Inftrument,  under  Provi¬ 
dence, for  their  protection  :  He  heard  it  and 
inflantly  obeyed  ;  and  thus  advanced  the 
Jaft  afcending  ftep  in  the  career  of  earthly 
glory.  On  this  high  and  commanding 
ground,  he  flood,  venerable  in  fer vices  as 
in  years,  the  cement  and  the  bulwark  of 
cur  nation,  till  the  14th  of  Dec.  1799, 
when  he  was  fummoned  above,  to  join  that 
noble  company  of  the  “  wife,  who  fan  11 


See  Note  (  F  )  in  the  Appendix, 


MEMORY  cr 


44 

fbinc  as  the  brightnefs  of  the  firmament, 

and  as  the  fears  forever  and  ever.” 

♦ 

His  lad  ficknefs  was  fhori  and  painful. 
On  Thurfday  the  12th,  he  was  abroad  on 
one  of  his  plantations.  The  day  was  rainey 
and  he  took  cold  ;  which,  on  Friday,  pro¬ 
duced  a  violent  inflammation  in  the  throat. 
The  following  night  his  difeafe  became  very 
alarming,  and  he  was  urged  to  fend  to 
Alexandria  for  his  phyfleian.  His  humanity 
for  his  fervants  prevented  it  till  the  next 
morning.  At  1 1  o’clock  on  Saturday  his 
Phyfleian  arrived.  It  was  too  late.  The 
hand  of  death  was  already  upon  him.  Tho 
his  diflrefs  was  extreme,  he  was  calm  and 
refigned.  cc  He  informed  his  attendants  that 
his  affairs  were  in  good  order  ;  that  he  had 
made  his  will,  and  that  his  public  buflnefs 
was  but  two  days  behind  hand.”  A  very 
fhort  time  before  he  died,  he  faid  to  his 
Phyfleian,  45  Doclor  What  is  the  clock  ?  How 
long  am  I  to  remain  in  this  fit  nation  ?  The 
Doclor  replied,  44  Not  long  Sir."  He  then 
rejoined  with  the  firmed  countenance  t4  / 
have  no  fear ,  Doctor ,  to  die."  His  breath¬ 
ing  foon  grew  fhorter  ;  and  prefently  after 
he  expired  without  a  flgh  or  a  groan.” 


WASHINGTON. 


45 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON  in  hi* 
perfon  was  tall,  upright,  and  well  made  ; 
in  his  manners  eafy  and  unaffected.  His 
eyes  were  of  a  blueifti  caff,  not  prominent, 
indicative  of  deep  thoughtfulnefs,  and 
when  in  adion,  on  great  occafions  remark¬ 
ably  lively.  His  features  ftrong,  manly, 
and  commanding  ;  his  temper  refer ved  and 
ferious ;  his  countenance  grave,  cornpofed,. 
and  fenfible.  There  was  in  his  whole  ap¬ 
pearance  an  unufual  dignity  and  graceful- 
nefs  which  at  once  fecured  for  him  profound 
refpeet,  and  cordial  efteem.  He  feemed 
born  to  command  his  fellow  men.  In  his 
official  capacity  he  received  applicants  for 
favors,  and  anTvered  their  requefts  with  fo 
much  eafe,  condcfcenfion  and  kindnefs,  as 
that  each  retired,  believing  himfelf  a  favorite 
of  his  Chief.  He  had  an  excellent  and  well 
cultivated  underftanding;  a  correct,  difcern- 
ing,  and  comprehenfive  mind  y  a  memory 
remarkably  retentive  ;  energetic  paffions 
under  perfect  controul ;  a  judgment  fober* 
deliberate,  and  found.  He  was  a  man  of 
the  drifted:  honor  and  hone  ft  v,  fair  and 
honorable  in  his  dealings  ;  and  punctual 
to  his  engagements.  His  difpofition  was 
mild,  kind,  and  generous.  Candour  fmce- 


MEMORY  or 


4  6 

rity,  moderation,  and  fimplicity,  were,  in 
common,  prominent  features  in  his  charac¬ 
ter  ;  but  when  an  occafion  called,  he  was 
capable  of  difplaying  the  moft  determined 
bravery,  firmnefs,  and  independence.  Me 
was  an  affectionate  hufband,  a  faithful 
friend,  a  humane  mailer,  and  a  father  to  the 
poor.  lie  lived  in  the  unvarying  habits  of 
regularity,  temperance,  and  induftry.  Me 
fteadily  rofe  at  the  dawn  of  day,  and  retired 
to  reft  ufualiy  at  9  o’clock  in  the  evening. 
The  intermediate  hours  all  had  their  pro¬ 
per  bufinefs  affigned  them.  In  his  allot¬ 
ments  for  the  revolving  hours,  religion  was 
not  forgotten.  'Feeling,  what  he  fo  often 
publicly  acknowledged,  his  entire  depen¬ 
dence  on  God,  he  daily,  at  ftated  feafons, 
retired  to  his  clofet,  to  worfhip  at  his  foot- 
ftool,  and  to  afk  his  divine  blefling.  lie  was 
remarkable  for  his  drift  obfervation  of  the 
Sabbath,  and  exemplary  in  his  atten¬ 
dance  on  public  worfhip. 

Of  his  faith  in  the  truth  and  ex¬ 
cellency  of  the  holy  feriptures,  he  gave  evi¬ 
dence,  not  only  by  his  excellent  and  mm  ft 
exemplary  life,  but  in  his  writings  ;  especial¬ 
ly  when  he  afe rites  the  meliorated  con- 


WASHINGTON. 


47 


dition  of  mankind,  and  the  increafed  bleflf- 
ings  of  fcciety,  cc  above  all ,  to  the  pure  and 
benign  light  of  revelation  N  and  when 
he  offers  to  God,  his  earned  prayer  <c  that 
he  would  mod  gracioufly  be  pleafed  to  dif- 
pofe  us  all  to  do  judice,  to  love  mercy,  and 
to  demean  ourfelves  with  that  charity, 
humility,  and  pacific  temper  of  mind,  which 
were  the  chara&eriftics  of  the  Divine  Author 
sf  our  ble [fed  religion  ;  without  an  humble 
imitation  of  whofe  example,  in  thefe  things 
we  can  never  hope  to  be  a  happy  nation. ”* 
Inanaddrefs  to  him,  immediately  after  he 
commenced  his  Preddency  over  the  United 
States,  from  a  venerable  and  refpedlable 
body  of  men,  who  were  in  the  bed  dura¬ 
tion  to  know  his  religious  character,  and 
who,  no  doubt,  exprefled  what  they  knew, 
is  the  following  teftimony  to,  his  faith  in 
Chridianity  44  But  we  derive  a  prefage,” 
fay  they,  ci  even  more  flattering,  from  the 
piety  of  your  character.  Public  virtue  is 
the.  mod  certain  mean  of  public  felicity  ; 
and  religion  is  the  fured  bads  of  virtue. 
We  therefore  edeetn  it  a  peculiar  happi- 

*  See  his  Circular  Letter  to  the  Governors  of  the 
fevcral  States,  dated  Mew  burg,  June  i8,  j  783. 


MEMORT  of 


nefs  to  behold  in  our  Chief  Magi  Urate,  a 
jteady ,  uniform ,  avowed  friend  of  the  Chrif- 
turn  Religion  ;  who  has  commenced  his  ad- 
miniftration  in  rational  and  exalted  fenti- 
ments  of  piety,  and  who,  in  his  private 
conduct,  adorns  the  doctrines  of  the  G  of  pci 
of  Chrijl.”  Grounded  on  thefe  pure  and 
excellent  doftrines,  to  which  his  life  was 
fo  conformable  ;  copying,  as  he  did,  with 
fuch  exemplary  flridnefs  and  uniformity, 
the  precepts  of  Chrift,  we  have  ftrong  con- 
folation  and  joy  in  believing,  that  e’re  this, 
he  has  heard  from  his  God  and  Saviour, 
this  enrapturing  fentence  :  Wtll  done  good 
and  faithful  fervant ,  enter  into  the  joy  of  your 
L  ord . 

What  a  blefling  to  the  world,  what 
an  honor  to  human  nature,  is  a  character 
thus  <c  throughout  fublime  r”  What  a 
bright  exemplar  for  kings,  for  princes,  for 
rulers  of  every  name,  for  warriors,  for  far¬ 
mers,  for  Chriftians,  for  mankind  ?  Thanks 
be  to  God  for  fo  rich  a  gift  \  praife  to  his 
name  for  bellowing  it  on  our  nation,  and 
thus  diuinguifhing  it  above  all  others  on 
the  globe,  and  let  all  the  people  of 
COLUMBIA,  WITH  ONE  VOICE,  SAT 
AMEN. 


WASHING  TON. 


49 


KdMBBBflPmi 


Jfaiional  J&dhonoiucil^  of \ tflcjji&ct* 


CONGRESS  of  the  UNITED  STATES , 

Houfe  of  Pveprefentatives,  Dec.  18,  1799* 


Immediately  after  the  jour- 

nals  were  read,  General  Marjhall  came 
into  the  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives,  appa¬ 
rently  much  agitated,  and  faid, 

Mr*  Speaker , 

Information  has  juft  been  received, 
that  our  illuftrious  fellow-citizen, the  Com¬ 
mander  in  Chief  of  the  American  army,  and 
the  late  Prefident  of  the  United  States,  is 
no  more.  Though  this  diftreffing  intelli¬ 
gence  is  not  certain,  there  is  too  much  rea- 
fon  to  believe  its  truth. 

After  receiving  information  of  a  na¬ 
tional  calamity  fo  heavy,  and  fo  afflicting, 


53 


MEMORT  of 


the  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives  can  be 
but  ill  fitted  for  public  bufmefs.  1  move 
you,  therefore,  that  we  adjourn. 

The  Houfe  immediately  adjourned. 


Thursday,  Dec.  19. 

The  following  Me f age  was  received  from 
The  President  of  the  United  States . 


Gentlemen  of  the  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives, 

THE  letter  herewith  tranfmitted  will 
inform  you,  that  it  has  pleafed  Divine  Pro¬ 
vidence  to  remove  from  this  life,  our  ex¬ 
cellent  fellow-citizen,  GEORGE  WASH¬ 
INGTON,  by  the  purity  of  his  character, 
and  a  long  feries  of  fervices  to  his  country 
rendered  illuftrious  through  the  world.  It 

o 

remains  for  an  affeSionate  and  grateful 
people,  in  whofe  hearts  he  can  never  die* 
to  pay  f intable  honor  to  his  memory. 

JOHN  ADAMS, 


WASHINGTON.  51 

“Mount  Vernon,  Dec.  iS ,  1799* 

S/i?? 

«  IT  is  with  inexpreflible  grief  that  I 
have  to  announce  to  you  the  death  of  the 
great  and  good  Gen.  WASHINGTON. 
He  died  laft  evening,  between  10  and  11 
o’clock,  after  a  fnort  iilnefs  of  about  twen¬ 
ty-four  hours.  His  diforder  was  an  inflam¬ 
matory  fore  throat  which  proceeded  from  a 
cold,  of  which  he  made  but  little  com¬ 
plaint  on  Friday.  On  Saturday  morning 
about  three  o’clock,  he  became  ill.  Dr, 
Dick  attended  him  in  the  morning,  and  Dr, 
Craik ,  of  Alexandria,  and  Dr.  Brown ,  of 
Port  Tobacco,  were  foon  after  called  in. 
Every  medical  affiltance  was  offered,  but 
without  the  defired  effect.  His  laft  fcene 
correfponded  with  the  whole  tenor  of  his 
life.  Not  a  groan,  nor  a  complaint,  efcap- 
ed  him,  though  in  extreme  diftrefs.— 
With  perfect  refignation,  and  a  full  'pof- 
fefiion  of  his  reafon,  he  clofed  his  well 
fpent  life.  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

“  TOBIAS  LEAR, 

Ci  The  Prcfident  of  ^ 
the  United  States ”  3 


MEMORY  c? 


Gen.  Marshall,  with  deep  forrow 
on  his  countenance,  and  in  a  pathetic  tone 
of  voice,  thus  addreffed  the  houfe  :* — 

Mr .  Speaker , 

The  melancholy  event  which  was 
yefterday  announced  with  doubt,  has  been 
rendered  but  too  certain.  Our  WASH¬ 
INGTON  is  no  more  !— The  hero,  the 
fage,  and  the  patriot  of  America- — the  man 
on  whom  in  times  of  danger,  every  eye 
was  turned,  and  all  hopes  were  placed, 
lives  now,  only  in  his  own  great  actions, 
and  in  the  hearts  of  an  afledionate  and 
affected  people. 

If,  Sir,  it  had  not  been  ufual,  openly 
to  teftify  refpeft  for  the  memory  of  thofe 
whom  heaven  had  felefted  as  its  inflru- 
ments,  for  difpenfmg  good  to  man  :  yet, 
fuch  has  been  the  uncommon  worth,  and 
fuch  the  extraordinary  incidents  which 
have  marked  the  life  of  him  whofe  lofs  we 
all  deplore,  that  the  whole  American  na¬ 
tion,  impelled  by  the  fame  feelings,  would 
call  with  one  voice  for  a  public  manifefta- 
tion  of  that  forrow  which  is  fo  deep  and  fo 
univcrLh 


WASHING  TON. 


53 


More  than  any  other  individual,  and 
as  much  as  to  one  individual  was  poffible, 
has  he  contributed  to  found  this  our  wide 
fpreading  empire,  and  to  give  to  the  weftern 
world  its  independence  and  its  freedom. 
Having  effected  the  great  objeft  for  which 
he  was  placed  at  the  head  of  our  armies, 
we  have  feen  him  convert  the  fword  into 
the  piough-fhare,  and  voluntarily  fink  the 
foldier  in  the  citisen. 

When  the  debility  of  our  federal 
fyitem  had  become  manifefl,  and  the  bonds 
which  connected  the  parts  of  this  vaff  con¬ 
tinent  were  diffolving,  we  had  feen  him  the 
chief  of  thofe  patriots  who  formed  for  us  a 
conftitution, which, by  preferving  the  union, 
will,  I  truft,  fubftantiate  and  perpetuate 
thofe  bleffmgs  our  revolution  had  promifed 
to  bedow. 

In  obedience  to  the  general  voice  of 
his  country,  calling  on  him  to  prefide  over 

a  great  people,  we  have  feen  him  once 
more  quit  the  retirement  he  loved,  and  in 
a  feafcn  more  dormy  and  tempeftuous  than 

war  itfelf,  with  calm  and  wife  determination 

Ez 


54 


MEMORT  of 


purfue  the  true  interefts  of  the  nation,  and 
contribute,  more  than  any  other  could  con¬ 
tribute,  to  the  eflabiifhment  of  that  fyflem 
of  policy  which  will,  I  trull,  yet  preferve 
cur  peace,  our  honor,  and  our  indepen¬ 
dence.  Having  been  twice  unanimoufly . 
chofen  the  chief  magiftrate  of  a  free  people, 
we  fee  him,  at  a  time  when  his  re-election 
with  the  univer.fal  fuffrage  could  not  have- 
been  doubted,  afFording  the  world  a  rare 
inftance  of  moderation,  by  withdrawing 
from  his  high  Ration  to  the  peaceful  walks 
of  private  life. 

Ho  wever  public  confidence  may 
change,  and  the  public  affedlions  fluctuate 
with  refpedt  to  others,  yet,  with  refpedl  to 
him,  they  have,  in  war  and  in  peace  in  pub¬ 
lic  and  in  private  life,  been  as  Ready  as  his 
own  firm  mind,  and  as  conRant  as  his  owa 
exalted  virtues. 

Let  us  then,  Mr.  Speaker,  pay  the 
lafl  tribute  of  refpecl  and  afFedlion  to  our 
departed  friend.  Let  the  grand  council  of 
the  nation  difplay  thofe  fentimeats  which 
the  nation  feels. 


WASHINGTON. 


55 


For  this  purpofe,  I  hold  in  my  hand 
fome  refoiutions  which  I  will  take  the  lib¬ 
erty  to  offer  to  the  Houfe  : 

Resolved,  that  this  Iioufe  will 
wait  on  the  Prefident  of  the  United  States, 
in  condolence  of  this  mournful  event : 

65  Resolved,  that  the  Speaker’s  chair 
be  fhrouded  with  black,  and  that  the  Mem¬ 
bers  and  officers  of  the  Houfe  wear  black 
during  the  fefllon  : 

<c  Resolved,  that  a  committee,  in 
conjunction  with  one  from  the  Senate,  be 
appointed  to  confider  on  the  moll  fuitable 
manner  of  paying  honor  to  the  memory  of 
the  man,  fir  ft  in  war,  firft  in  peace,  and 
fir  ft  in  the  hearts  of  his  country  t- 

cc  Resolved,  that  this  Houfe,  when 
it  adjourn,  do  adjourn  to  Monday.” 

These  refoiutions  were  unanimoufly 
agreed  to.  Sixteen  members  were  ap¬ 
pointed  on  the  third  refolution. 


Generals  MarJh.aH  and  Smith ,  hav¬ 
ing  waited  on  the  Prefident  to  know  when 


ME  MO RT  on 


he  would  be  ready  to  receive  the  Houfe— - 
the  Prefident  named  one  o’clock  this  day. 
The  Houfe  accordingly  waited  on  him, 
when  the  Speaker  thus  addreiTed  the  Prefi- 
dent : 

Sir , 

The  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives,  pene¬ 
trated  with  a  fenfe  of  the  irreparable  lofs 
fuftained  by  the  nation,  by  the  death  of  that 
great  and  good  man,  the  iliuftrious  and 
beloved  WASHINGTON,  wait  on  you. 
Sir,  to  exprefs  their  condolence  on  this 
melancholy  and  diftrefting  event. 


c±o  which  the  Prefident  replied • 
Gentlemen  of  the  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives, 

I  receive  with  the  greatefl  refpedt 
and  afieflion,  the  condolence  of  the  Houfe 
of  Reprefentatives,  on  the  melancholy  and 
afilidfcmg  event  in  the  death  of  the  mod 
illuftrious  and  beloved  perfonage  which 
this  country  ever  produced.  I  fympathize 
with  you— with  the  nation,  and  with  good 
men,  through  the  world,  in  the  irreparable 
lofs  fuftained  by  us  all. 

JOHN  ADAMS. 


WASHINGTON. 


57 

Philadelphia,  Dec.  23,  1799. 

The  Senate  of  the  United  States,  this 
day,  fent  the  following  letter  of  condolence 
to  the  Prefrdent,  by  a  committee  of  its 
Members,  to  which  he  returned  the  annex¬ 
ed  anfwer. 

To  the  Prejldent  of  the  United  States • 

Tiie  Senate  of  the  United  States  ref- 
pe£t fully  take  leave,  Sir,  to  exprefs  to  you 
their  deep  regret  for  the  Iofs  their  country 
fuftains  in  the  death  of  GENERAL 
GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 


This  event,  fo  diflrefling  to  ali  our 
fellow  citizens,  mud  be  peculiarly  heavy  on 
you,  who  have  long  been  affociated  with 
him  in  deeds  of  patriotifm.  Permit  us, 
Sir,  to  mingle  our  tears  with  yours  :  On 
this  occafion  it  is  manly  to  weep.  To  lofe 
fuch  a  man  at  fuch  a  crifis  is  no  common 

r 

calamity  to  the  world:  Our  country  mourns 
her  father.  The  Almighty  Difpofer  of  hu¬ 
man  events  has  taken  from  us  our  great- 
efl  benefactor  and  ornament.  It  becomes 
us  to  fubmit  with  reverence  to  him,  who 
Ci  maketh  darkuefs-his  pavillion.” 


5^ 


MEMORT  cs 


With  patriotic  pride  we  review  the 
life  of  our  WASHINGTON,  and  compare 
him  with  thofe  of  other  countries  who  have 
been  pre-eminent  in  fame.  Ancient  and 
modern  names  are  ditninifhed  before  him. 
Greatnefs  and  guilt  have  too  often  been 
allied  ;  but  his  fame  is  whiter  than  it  is 
brilliant.  The  dedroyers  of  nations  flood 
abafhed  at  the  majefly  of  his  virtues.  It 
reproved  the  intemperance  of  their  ambi¬ 
tion,  and  darkened  the  fplendor  of  victory. 
The  fcene  is  clofed,  and  we  are  no  longer 
anxious  led  misfortune  fhould  fully  his 
glory  ;  he  has  travelled  to  the  end  of  his 
journey,  and  carried  with  him  an  mcreaf- 
ing  weight  of  glory  :  he  has  depofitcd  it 
fafely,  where  misfortune  cannot  tarnifh  it, 
where  malice  cannot  biad  it.  Favored  of 
Heaven,  he  departed  without  exhibiting 
the  weaknefs  of  humanity  ;  magnanimous 
in  death,  the  darknefs  of  the  grave  could 
not  obfcure  his  brightnefs. 

Such  was  the  man  whom  we  deplore. 
Thanks  to  Gon,  his  glory  is  confummat- 
ed  ;  WASHINGTON  yet  lives  on  earth 
in  his  fpotlefs  example— his  fpirit  is  ia 
Heaven. 


WASHINGTON. 


59 


Let  his  countrymen  confecrate  the 
memory  of  the  heroic  General,  the  patri¬ 
otic  Statefman,  and  the  virtuous  Sage  :  let 
them  teach  their  children  never  to  forget 
that  the  fruits  of  his  labors,  and  his  exam- 
pie,  are  their  inheritance. 


P  r  (fide  nf  s  A  if  we  r . 

Gentlemen  of  the  Senate, 

I  receive  with  the  mod  refpeftful 
and  affectionate  fentiments,  in  this  impref- 
five  addrefs,  the  obliging  expreffions  of 
your  regret,  for  the  lofs  our  country  has 
fudained,  in  the  death  of  her  mod  efteem- 
cd,  beloved,  and  admired  citizen. 

.In  the  multitude  of  my  thoughts  and 
recollections  on  this  melancholy  event,  you 
will  permit  me  only  to  fay,  that  I  have  feen 
him  in  the  days  of  adverfity,  in  fome  of 
the  feenes  of  his  deeoeft  did  refs  and  mod 

j. 

trying  perplexities — I  have  alfo  attended 
him  in  his  highed  elevation  and  mod  pros¬ 
perous  felicity — with  uniform  admiration 
of  his  wifdom,  moderation  and  condancy* 


6q 


MEMORT  or 


Among  all  our  original  afTociates,  in 
that  memorable  league  of  the  Continent  in 
1774,  which  fir  ft  exprefted  the  fovereign 
will  of  a  free  nation  in  America,  he  was 
the  only  one  remaining  in  the  general  gov¬ 
ernment.  Although,  with  a  conftitution 
more  enfeebled  than  his,  at  an  age  when 
he  thought  it  neceffary  to  prepare  for  re¬ 
tirement,  I  feel  myfelf  alone,  bereaved  of 
my  laft  brother — -yet  I  derive  a  ftrong  con- 
folation  from  the  unanimous  difpofition, 
which  appears  in  all  ages  and  claftes,  to 
mingle  their  forrows  with  mine,  on  this 
common  calamity  to  the  world. 

The  life  of  our  WASHINGTON 
cannot  fuffer  by  a  comparifon  with  thofe  of 
other  countries,  who  have  been  moft  cele¬ 
brated  and  exalted  by  fame.  The  attri¬ 
butes  and  decorations  of  royalty,  could 
have  only  ferved  to  eclipfe  the  rnajefty  of 
thofe  virtues  which  made  him,  from  being  a 
modeft  citizen,  a  more  refplendent  lumi¬ 
nary.  Misfortune,  had  he  lived,  could 
hereafter  have  fullied  his  glory  only  with 
thofe  fuperficial  minds,  who,  believing  that 
characters  and  actions  are  marked  by  fuc- 
cefs  alone,  rarely  deferve  to  enjoy  it, 


WASHINGTON. 


St 


Malice  could  never  have  blafted  his  honor, 
and  envy  made  him  a  fmgular  exception 
to  her  univerfal  rule. 

For  himfelf  he  had  lived  enough,  to 
life  and  to  glor*y  :  for  his  fellow-citizens, 
if  their  prayers  could  have  been  anfwered, 
he  would  have  been  immortal.  For  me, 
his  departure  is  at  a  moll  unfortunate  mo¬ 
ment.  Trufting,  however,  in  the  wife 
and  righteous  dominion  of  providence  over 
the  paflions  of  men,  and  the  refults  of  their 
councils  and  aftions,  as  well  as  over  their 
lives,  nothing  remains  for  me,  but  humble 
refignation. 

His  example  is  now  complete,  and 
It  will  ieach  wifdom  and  virtue  to  maeif- 

o 

trates,  citizens,  and  men,  not  only  in  the 
prefent  age,  but  in  future  generations,  as 
long  as  our  hiftory  fhall  be  read.  If  a 
Trajan  found  a  Pliny,  a  Marcus  Aurelius 
can  never  want  biographers,  eulogifls,  or 
hiltorians. 

JOHN  ADAMS . 

In  the  Houfe  of  Representatives, 
General  Marjkall ,  made  a  report  in  part, 

F 


6  s 


MEMORT  op 


from  the  joint  committee  appointed  to  con- 
fid-er  a  fuitable  mode  of  commemorating  the 
death  of  Gen.  WASHINGTON. 

He  reported  the  following  resolutions  : 

Refolded  by  the  Senate  and  Houfe  of 
Reprefentaiives  of  the  United  States  of  Ameri¬ 
ca,  in  Congrefs  affembled ,  That  a  marble 
monument  be  erefted,  by  the  Uuited  States, 
in  the  capitol  of  the  city  of  Walhingcon, 
and  that  the  family  of  Gen.  WASHING¬ 
TON  be  requeued  to  permit  his  body  to 
l^e  depofited  under  it,  and  that  the  monu¬ 
ment  be  fo  defigned  as  to  commemorate 
the  great  events  of  his  military  and  politi¬ 
cal  life. 

And  be  it further Refolved ,That  there  be 
a  funeral  proceflion  from  Congrefs  hall,  to 
the  German  Lutheran  church,  in  memory 
of  GENERAL  GEORGE  WASHING¬ 
TON,  on  Thurfday,  the  26th  in  ft.  and 
that  an  Oration  he  prepared  at  the  requeft: 
of  Congrefs,  to  be  delivered  before  both 
Uoufes  on  that  day  ;  and  that  the  Prefident 
of  the  Senate,  and  Sneaker  of  the  Houfe  of 
Reprefentaiives,  be  defired  to  requeft  one 
of  the  Members  of  Congrefs  to  prepare 
and  deliver  the  fame. 


WASHINGTON. 


s3 

And  be  it  further  Rtfolved ,  That  it  be 
recommended  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  to  wear  crape  on  their  left  arm,  as 
mourning,  for  thirty  days.  ! 

And  be  it  further  Refolded ,  That  the 
Prefident  be  requeftea  to  direct  a  copy  of 
thefe  refolutions  to  be  tranfmitted  to  Mrs. 
Wafhington ,  alluring  her  of  the  profound 
refped  Congrefs  will  ever  bear  to  her  per- 
fon  and  chara&er,  of  their  condolence  on 
the  late  affli&ing  difpenfation  of  providence, 
and  entreating  her  affent  to  the  interment 
of  the  remains  of  Gen.  WASHINGTON 
in  the  manner  expreffed  in  the  firft  refo- 
lution. 

And  be  it  further  Refolded ,  That  the 
Prefident  be  requefted  to  ilfue  a  Proclama¬ 
tion,  notifying  to  the  people  throughout 
the  United  States,  the  recommendation, 
contained  in  the  third  refolutioiu 

These  resolutions  palfed  both  Houf- 
es  unanimoufly. 

December  24* 

This  day,  in  the  Houfe  of  Reprefen- 
tatives,  the  Speaker  informed  the  Houfe, 
that  in  conformity  to  the  fecond  refolution 


&4 


^r; 


MEMORT  of 

paffed  on  Monday,  Major-General  Lee  had 
been  appointed,  by  the  Prefident  of  the 
Senate,  and  the  Speaker  of  the  Houfe  of 
Reprefentatives,  to  prepare  and  deliver  the 
Oration  in  honor  of  our  late  illuftrlous 
Commander  in  Chief,  on  Thurfday  next, 
which  appointment  he  had  been  pleafed  to 
accept. 

A  message  was  received  from  the 
Prefident  of  the  United  States,  notifying 
the  Houfe  that  he  had  agreed  to  the  refo- 
lutions  paffed  on  Monday,  in  honor  to  the 
memory  of  GENERAL  WASHINGTON, 
and  depofited  them  among  the  rolls  and 
records  of  the  United  States. 


The  Senate  of  the  United  States 
have  come  to  an  order,  that,  the  Members 
wear  black  during  the  feffion,  and  that  the 
chair  of  the  Prefident  be  fhrouded  with 
black,  overhung  with  curtains  of  black,  and 
the  whole  chamber  lined  in  a  fimiiar  man¬ 
ner— as  a  teflimony  of  refpefl  for  the 
memory  of  their  beloved  and  regretted  late 
fellow-citizen,  GEORGE  WASHING¬ 
TON. 


WASHINGTON. 


WAR  DEPARTMENT. 

The  Prefident,  with  deep  regret, 
announces  to  the  army  the  death  of  its  be¬ 
loved  Chief,  General  GEORGE  WASH¬ 
INGTON.— Sharing  in  the  grief,  which 
every  heart  mud  feel  for  fo  heavy  and 
afflicting  a  public  lofs,  and  defirous  to  ex- 
prefs  the  high  fenfe  of  the  vafl  debt  of 
gratitude  which  is  due  to  the  virtues,  tal¬ 
ents,  and  ever  memorable  fervices  of  the 
illuitrious  deceafed,  he  direds  that  funeral 
honors  be  paid  to  him  at  all  the  military 
Rations,  and  that  the  officers  of  the  army 
and  of  the  feveral  corps  of  volunteers,  wear 
crape  on  the  left  arm,  by  way  of  mourn¬ 
ing,  for  fix  months.  Major-General  Ham¬ 
ilton  will  give  the  neceflary  orders  for  car¬ 
rying  into  effeCt  the  foregoing  directions. 

Given  at  the  War -Office  of  the  United 
States ,  in  Philadelphia ,  this  lgth 
clay  of  December ,  A.  D.  1799,  and 
in  the  24 th  year  of  the  Independence 
of  the  f aid  States. 

By  coaiir.and  of  the  Prefident, 

JAMES  M‘HENRY. 

Secretary  of  War, 

Fa 


MEMORY  of 


<r 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT, 

December  20th,  1799. 

The  Prefident,  with  deep  affliction, 
announces  to  the  Navy,  and  to  the  Marine?, 
the  death  of  our  beloved  fellow-citizen 
GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  Command¬ 
er  of  our  Armies,  and  late  Prefident  of  the 
United  States ;  but  rendered  more  illuflri- 
ous  by  his  eminent  virtues,  and  a  long 
feries  of  the  mod:  important  fervices,  than 
by  the  honors  which  his  grateful  country 
delighted  to  confer  upon  him. 

/  '  -''Of  *  *  .  ^ 

Dehrous  that  the  Navy  and  Marines 
should  exprefs,  in  common  with  every  other 
defcription  of  American  citizens,  the  high 
fenfe  which  all  feel  of  the  lofs  our  country 
has  fuflained  in  the  death  of  this  good  and 
great  man  ;  the  Prefident  direQs  that  the 
veflels  of  the  Navy,  incur  own  and  in  Fo¬ 
reign  ports,  be  put  into  mourning  for  one 
week,  by  wearing  their  colours  half-  mad 
high  ;  and  that  the  offlcers  of  the  Navy 
and  of  the  Marines,  were  crape  on  the  left 
arm,  below  the  elbow,  for  fix  months. 


BENJAMIN  STODDERT. 

»■  *  —  * 


WASHINGTON. 


<S7 


\ 


GENERAL  ORDERS. 

IvlAjoR-General  Hamilton  prefaces  his 
Orders  to  the  Military  of  the  UnitedStates 
after  reciting  the  Prefident’s  orders,  as 
follows  ; — ' 66  The  impreflive  terms,  in  which 
this  great  National  calamity  is  announced 
by  the  Prefident,  could  receive  no  new 
force  from  any  thing  that  might  be  added. 
The  voice  of  praife  would  in  vain  endea¬ 
vor  to  exalt  a  character,  unrivalled  on  the 
lids  of  true  glory.  Words  would  in  vain 
attempt  to  give  utterance  to  that  profound 
and  reverential  grief,  which  will  penetrate 
every  American  bofom,  and  engage  the 
fympathy  of  an  admiring  world.  If  the 
fad  privilege  of  pre-eminence  in  forrow  may 
juflly  be  claimed  by  the  companions  in 
arms  of  our  lamented  Chief,  their  affections 
will  fpontaneoufly  perform  the  dear  though 
painful  duty.  *Tis  only  for  me  to  mingle 
my  tears  with  thofe  of  my  fellow-foldiers, 
cheriftiing  with  them  the  precious  recollec¬ 
tion,  that  while  others  are  paying  a  merit¬ 
ed  tribute  to  “  "The  Man  of  the  Agef  we 
in  particular,  allied  as  we  were  to  him  by 
a  clofer  tie,  are  called  to  mourn  the  irre¬ 
parable  lofs  of  a  kind  and  venerated  Patron 
and  Father  l” 


c  ar 


MEMORY*  of 


In  obedience  to  the  directions  of  the 
President,  the  following  funeral  honors 
will  be  paid  at  the  feveral  flations  of  the 
army. 

At  day-break  fixfeen  guns  will  be  fir¬ 
ed  in  quick  fucceflion,  and  one  gun  at  the 
diftance  of  each  half  hour  till  fun-fet. 

During  the  proceflion  of  the  troops 
to  the  place  reprefenting  that  of  interment, 
and  until  the  conclufjon  of  the  ceremonial 
minute  guns  will  be  fired. 

The  bier  will  be  received  by  the  troops 
formed  in  line,  prefentin-g  their  arms,  and 
the  officers,  drums  and  colours  faluting  ; 
after  this  the  proceflion  will  begin  ;  the 
troops  marching  by  platoons  in  inverted 
order,  and  with  arms  reverfed  to  the  place 
of  interment;  the  drums  muffled  and  the 
aaufic  playing  a  dead  march. 

The  bier  carried  by  four  Serjeants 
and  attended  by  fix  pall-bearers,  where 
there  is  cavalry,  will  be  preceded  by  the 
cavalry  and  will  be  followed  by  the  troops 
on  foot.  Where  there  is  no  cavalry,  a  de¬ 
tachment  cf  infantry  will  precede  the  bier. 


WASHINGTON.  % 

which  itfeif  will  in  every  cafe  be  preceded 
by  fuch  of  the  Clergy  as  may  be  prefent. 
The  Officers  of  the  General  Staff  will  im¬ 
mediately  fucceed  the  bier. 

Where  a  numerous  body  of  citizens 
fhali  be  united  with  the  Military  in  the  pro* 
eeffion,  the  whole  of  the  troops  will  precede 
the  bier,  which  will  then  be  followed  by 
the  Citizens. 

When  arrived  near  the  place  of  inter¬ 
ment,  the  proceffion  will  halt.  The  troops 
in  front  of  the  bier  will  form  in  line,  and 
opening  their  ranks  will  face  inwards  to 
admit  the  paffage  of  the  bier,  which  will 
then  pafs  through  the  ranks,  the  troops 
leaning  on  their  arms  reverfed  while  the 
bier  paffes !  When  the  bier  fhali  have  paff- 
ed,  the  troops  will  refume  their  pofitionin 
line,  and  reverfmg  their  arms  will  remain 
leaning  upon  them  until  the  ceremonial 
{hall  be  clofed. 

The  Mufic  will  now  perform  a  folemn 
air,  after  which  the  introductory  part  of 
this  order  fhali  be  read. 


MEMORT  of 


At  the  end  of  this  a  detachment  of 
infantry  appointed  for  the  purpofe  will  ad¬ 
vance  and  fire  three  vollies  over  the  bier. 
The  troops  will  then  return  ;  the  mufic 
playing  the  Prefident’s  march,  the  drums 
previoufly  unmuffled. 

Ti-ie  uniform  companies  of  Militia  are 
invited  to  join  in  arms  the  Volunteer  corps. 

The  Commanders  at  particular  Ra¬ 
tions*  conforming  generally  to  this  plan,' 
will  make  fuch  exceptions  as  will  accom¬ 
modate  it  to  fituation.  At  places  where 
proceflions  of  unarmed  Citizens  ihall  take 
place,  it  is  the  wifh  of  the  Major-General 
that  the  military  ceremonial  fliould  be  unit¬ 
ed.  And  the  particular  Commanders  at 
thofe  places  are  authorifed  to  vary  the  plan* 
fo  as  to  adapt  it  to  the  ciroumRances. 

The  day  of  performing  the  ceremonial 
at  each  Ration  is  left  to  the  particular  Com¬ 
mander. 

PHILIP  CHURCH, 

Aid-de-Camp* 


WASHINGTON. 


7t 

A  PROCLAMATION. 

By  the  President  of  the  United  States  o? 

America. 

"WhEREAS  the  Congrefs  of  the  United 
States  have  this  day  refolved,  ;s  That  it  be 
recommended  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States  to  affembieon  the  twenty-fecond  day 
of  February  next,  in  fuch  numbers  and  man¬ 
ner  as  may  be  convenient,  publicly  to  teflify 
their  grief  for  the  death  of  Gen.  GEORGE 
WASHINGTON,  by  fuitable  eulogies, ora¬ 
tions  and  difcourfes,  or  by  public  prayers 
and,  cc  That  the  Prefident  be  requeued  to 
iiTue  a  Proclamation,  for  the  purpofe  of  car¬ 
rying  the  forgoing  refolution  Into  effedL” 
NO  W,  THEREFORE,  I,  John  Adams, 
Prefident  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
do  hereby  proclaim  the  fame  accordingly. 

Given  under  my  hand ,  and  the  feal  of 
the  United  States ,  at  Philadelphia^ 
the  fixth  day  of  January,  in  the  year 
ef  our  Lord  one  thoufand  eight  hun¬ 
dred ,  and  of  the  Independence  of  the 
faid  States  the  twenty-fourth . 

IOHN  ADAMS, 

By  the  Prefident, 

Timothy  Pickering,  Secretary  of  State, 


MEMORT  on 


'7* 

Alexandria,  (Virg.)  dec. 21*  1799# 

PARTICULAR  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  LATE  ILLNESS 

AND  DEATH  OF 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 

SoME  time  in  the  night  of  Friday,  the 
10th  inflant,  having  been  expofed  to  a  rain 
on  the  preceding  day.  General  WASH¬ 
INGTON  was  attacked  with  an  inflam* 
matory  affection  of  the  upper  part  of  the 
wind  pipe,  called  in  technical  language 
Cynache  Trachealies.  The  difeafe  com¬ 
menced  with  a  violent  ague,  accompanied 
with  fome  pain  in  the  upper  and  fore  part 
of  the  throat,  a  fenfe  of  ftridture  in  the 
fame  part,  a  cough,  and  a  difficult,  rather 
than  a  painful  deglutition,  which  were 
foon  fucceeded  bv  fever  and  a  quick  and 

j  ■*- 

laborious  refpiration.  The  neceffity  of 
bloodletting  fuggefting  itfelf  to  the  Gener¬ 
al,  he  procured  a  bleeder  in  the  neighbor¬ 
hood,  who  took  from  his  arm  in  the  night 
12  or  14  ounces  of  blood.  Ele  could  not 
by  any  means  be  prevailed  on  by  the  fam¬ 
ily  to  fend  for  the  attending  phyfician  till 
the  following  morning,  who  arrived  at 
Mount  Vernon  at  about  1 1  o’clock  on  Sat- 


WASHINGTON. 


n 


urday.  Difcovering  the  cafe  to  be  highly 
alarming,  and  forefeeing  the  fatal  tenden* 
cy  of  the  difeafe,  two  confulting  phyficians 
were  immediately  fent  for,  who  arrived, 
one  at  half  after  three,  and  the  other  at 
four  o’clockin  the  afternoon  :  In  the  mean 
time  were  employed  two  pretty  copious 
bleedings,  a  blifter  was  applied  to  the  part 
affected,  two  moderate  dofes  of  calomel 
v/ere  given,  and  an  injection  was  adminif- 
tered,  which  operated  on  the  lower  intef- 
tines,  but  all  without  any  perceptible  ad¬ 
vantage,  the  refpiration  becoming  fill  more 
difficult  and  diftrefling.  Upon  the  arri¬ 
val  of  the  firff  of  the  confulting  phyficians, 
it  was  agreed,  as  there  were  yet  no  figns 
of  accumulation  in  the  bronchial  veffels  of 
the  lungs,  to  try  the  refult  of  another 
bleeding,  when  about  32  ounces  of  blood 
were  drawn,  without  the  fuelled:  apparent 
alleviation  of  the  difeafe.  Vapours  of  vin¬ 
egar  and  water  were  frequently  inhaled, 
ten  grains  of  calomel  were  given,  fucceed- 
ed  by  .repeated  dofes  of  emetic  tartar, 
amounting  in  all  to  5  or  6  grains,  with  no 


other  effect  than  a  copious  difff 


G 


MEMORT  02 


the  bowels.  The  powers  of  life  feemed 
now  manifeftly  yielding  to  the  force  of  the 
diforder  ;  bli tiers  were  applied  to  the  ex¬ 
tremities,  together  with  a  cataplafm  of 
bran  and  vinegar  to  the  throat.  Speak¬ 
ing,  which  was  painful  from  the  begin¬ 
ning,  now  became  almofl  impracticable  ; 
refpiration  grew  more  and  more  contract¬ 
ed  and  imperfeCt,  till  half  after  1 1  on  Sat¬ 
urday  night,  retaining  the  full  poffeffion 
of  his  intellect — when  he  expired  without 
a  ftruggle. 

IIe  was  fully  impreffcd  at  the  begin¬ 
ning  of  his  complaint,  as  well  as  through 
every  fucceeding  ft  age  of  it,  that  its  con¬ 
dition  would  be  mortal ;  fubmitting  to 
the  feveral  exertions  made  for  his  recovery  3 
rather  as  a  duty,  than  from  any  expecta¬ 
tion  of  their  efficacy.  He  confidered  the 
operations  of  death  upon  his  fyftem  as 
coeval  with  the  difeafe ;  and  feveral  hours 
before  his  death,  after  repeated  efforts  to 
be  underflood,  fucceeded  in  exprefling  a 
defire  that  he  might  be  permitted  to  die 
without  further  interruption. 


WASHINGTON. 


7S 


During  the  fhort  period  of  his  illnefs, 
he  economized  his  time,  in  the  arrange¬ 
ment  of  fuch  few  concerns  as  required  his 
attention,  with  the  utmod  ferenity ;  and 
anticipated  his  approaching  diiTolution 
with  every  demonftration  of  that  equan¬ 
imity  for  which  his  whole  life  has  been  fo 
uniformly  and  fmgularly  confoicuous.  *■ 

JAMES  CRAIK,  Attending  Phvjtciatt. 

ELISHA  C.  DICK,  Conjuhing  PhjJIcian. 


WASHINGTON'S  FUNERAL. 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  a  Gentleman  in 
Alexandria ,  dated  Dec.  19,  1799. 

cc  Yesterday  I  attended  the  Funeral 
of  the  Saviour  of  our  country  at  Mount 
Vernon  ;  and  had  the  honor  of  being  one 
who  carried  his  Body  to  the  vault.  He 
was  borne  by  military  gentlemen,  and 
brethren  of  our  Lodge,  of  which  he  was 
formerly  Mafter.  I  inclofe  you  a  fketch 
of  the  Proceffion.  To  defcribe  the  fcene 
is  impoffible.  The  coffin  bore  his  Sword 
and  Apron ;  and  the  Members  of  the 
Lodge  v/alked  as  mourners.  Ills  horfe 


*6 

/ 


MEMORV  of 


was  led,  properly  caparifoned,  by  two  of 
his  fervants,  in  mourning. 

cc  As  I  helped  place  his  body  in  the 
vault,  and  flood  at  the  door  while  the  fu¬ 
neral  fervice  was  performing,  I  had  the  bed: 
opportunity  of  obferving  the  countenances 
of  all.  Every  one  was  affedted,  but  none 
fo  much  as  his  domeflics  of  all  ages.” 


INTERMENT. 

Georgetown,  Dec.  20,  1799. 

On  Wednefday  lafl,  the  mortal  part 
of  WASHINGTON  the  great— the  father 
of  his  country  and  the  friend  of  man,  was 
configned  to  the  tomb,  with  folemn  hon* 
ors  and  funeral  pomp. 

A  multitude  of  perfons  afTembledj 
from  many  miles  around,  at  Mount  Ver¬ 
non,  the  choice  abode  and  lafl  refidence  of 
the  illuflrious  Chief.  There  were  the 
groves,  the  fpacious  avenues,  the  beautiful 
and  fublime  fcenes,  the  noble  manfion  5 
but,  alas !  the  auguft  inhabitant  was  now 
no  more .  That  great  foul  was  gone.  His 
mortal  part  was  there  indeed,  but  ah!  how 


WASHINGTON 


77 


affecting  !  how  awful  the  fpe&acls  of  fuch 
worth  and  greatnefs,  thus,  to  mortal  eyes, 
fallen  :  Yes !  fallen  !  fallen  ! 

In  the  long  and  lofty  Portico  where 
oft  the  Hero  walked  in  all  his  glory,  now 
lay  the  fhrouded  corpfe.  The  counte¬ 
nance  flill  compofed  and  ferene,  feemed  to 
exprefs  the  dignity  of  the  fpirit  which  late¬ 
ly  dwelt  in  that  lifelefs  form.  There  thofe 
who  paid  the  lait  fad  honors  to  the  bene¬ 
factor  of  his  country,  took  an  impreffive, 
a  farewell  view. 

On  the  ornament,  at  the  head  of  the 
coffin,  was  infcribed  Surge  ad  judicium; 
about  the  middle  of  the  coffin  Gloria 
Deo  ;  and  on  the  filver  plate, 

GENERAL 

GEORGE  WAS  RING  TO 

DEPARTED  THIS  LIFE,  ON  THE  14th  DECEMBER, 

1799,  2Eu  68. 

Between  three  and  four  o’clock,  the 
found  of  artillery  from  a  veffel  in  the  river, 
firing  minute  guns,  awoke  atrefh  our  fo¬ 
ie  inn  farrow;  the  corpfe  was  moved  ;  a 

G  2 


MEMORT  of 


band  of  mufic  with  mournful  melody, 
melted  the  foul  into  all  the  tendernefs  of 
woe. 


The  proceflion  was  formed  and.  mov¬ 
ed  on  in  the  following  order  : 


Cavalry,  7 
Infantry,  j 


With  arms  reverfed 


{ 


Guard, 


Mufic, 

Clergy, 

rlhe  General’s  horfe,  with  his  faddle,  hol¬ 
ders,  and  pidols. 

Col.  Gilpin, 

Col.  Marfteller, 

J  Col.  Little, 

Mourners, 

Mafonic  Brethren, 

Citizens. 


Col .  Simms, 


Col.  Ramfay, 


Col .  Payne,  [ 


O 

O 

& 

►d 

co 

W 


When  the  proceflion  had  arrived  at 
the  bottom  of  the  elevated  lawn,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Potomac,  where  the  family 
vault  is  placed,  the  cavalry  halted,  the  in* 


WASHINGTON. 


79 


fantry  marched  towards  the  Mount  and 
formed  the  inlines  ;  the  clergy,  the  Mafonic 
brothers,  and  the  citizens,  defcended  to 
the  vault,  and  the  funeral  fervice  of  the 
church  was  performed.  The  firing  was 
2'epeated  from  the  vefiel  in  the  river,  and 
the  founds  echoed  from  the  woods  and  hills 
around. 

Three  general  difcharges  by  the  infan¬ 
try  ;  the  cavalry,  and  1 1  pieces  of  artillery, 
which  lined  the  banks  of  the  Potomac  back 
of  the  vault,  paid  the  lafi  tribute  to  the  en¬ 
tombed  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  Ar¬ 
mies  of  the  United  States*  and  to  the  vene¬ 
rable  denarted  Hero. 

4. 

The  fun  was  now  fetting.  Alas!  the 
Sun  of  Glory  was  fet  forever.  No — the 
name  of  WASHINGTON,  the  American 
Prefident  and  General,  will  triumph  over 
death  5  the  unclouded  brightnefs  of  his  Glo« 
ry  will  illuminate  future  ages. 


So 


MEMORT  cy 


PRESIDENTS  message. 

Mr.  Shaw,  Secretary  to  the  Prefident* 
communicated  the  following  Mefiage  : 

Gentlemen  of  the  Senate,  and 

Gentlemen  of  the  Houle  of  Reprefentatives* 

IN  compliance  with  the  requeft  in 
one  of  the  refolutions  of  Congrefs  of  the 
2 1  ft  of  December  laft,  I  tranfmitted  a  copy 
of  thofe  refolutions  by  my  Secretary,  Mr. 
Shaw,  to  Mrs.  Washington,  alluring  her 
of  the  profound  refpedi  Congrefs  will  ever 
bear  to  her  perfon  and  chara&er  ;  of  their 
condolence  in  the  late  afflicting  difpenfation 
of  Providence,  and  intreating  her  afTent  to 
the  interment  of  the  remains  of  General 
GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  in  the  man¬ 
ner  exprefted  in  the  firft  refolution.  As 
the  fentiments  of  that  virtuous  lady,  not 
lefs  beloved  by  this  nation,  than  lire  is  at 
prefen t  greatly  affii&ed,  can  never  be  fo 
well  expreffed  as  in  her  own  words ;  I  tranf- 
mit  to  Congrefs  her  original  letter. 

It  would  be  an  attempt  of  too  much 
delicacy,  to  make  any  comments  upon  it, 
but  there  can  be  do  doubt,  that  the  nation 
at  large^  as  well  as  all  the  branches  of  the 


WASHINGTON. 


government,  will  be  highly  gratified  by 
any  arrangement  which  may  diminifh  the 


facridce  (he  makes  of  her  individual  feelings, 


JOHN  ADAMS. 


United  States,  Jan*  8,  1800. 


Mrs.  WASHINGTONS  LETTER. 

Mount  Vernon ,  Dec .  31,  1799. 
SIR, 

WHILE  I  feel  with  keened  anguifh, 
the  late  difpenfations  of  Divine  Providence, 
I  cannot  be  infenfible  to  the  mournful 
tributes  cf  refpecl  and  veneration,  which 
are  paid  to  the  memory  of  my  dear  deceaf- 
ed  hufband  ;  and,  as  his  bed  fervices  and 
mod  anxious  wifhes,  were  always  devoted 
to  the  welfare  and  happinefs  of  his  country, 
to  know  that  they  were  truly  appreciated, 
and  gratefully  remembered,  affords  no  in- 
confiderable  confolation. 

Taught  by  the  great  example,  which 
I  have  fo  long  had  before  me,  never  to  op- 
pofe  my  private  willies  to  the  public  will,  I 
mud  confent  to  the  requed  made  by  Con* 
grefs,  which  you  have  had  the  goodnefs  to 


MEMORY  of 


82 

tranfmit  me  ;  and  in  doing  this  I  need  not, 
I  cannot  fay,  what  a  facrifice  of  individual 
feeling  I  make  to  a  fenfe  of  public  duty. 

With  grateful  acknowledgments  and 
unfeigned  thanks  for  the  perfonal  refpect 
and  evidences  of  condolence  expreffed  by 
Corigrefs  and  yourfelf ;  I  remain  very  ref- 
pe£lfully,Sir,  your  moil  obedient  and  hum¬ 
ble  fervant, 

MARTHA  WASHINGTON. 

The  PreSdent  of  the  United  States. 


WASHING  TO  N. 


Oration'S ,  fyc. 


FUNERAL  ORATION, 

ON  THE  DEATH  OF  GENERAL  WASHING. 
TON,  PRONOUNCED  BEFORE  BOTH 
HOUSES  OF  CONGRESS,  ON  THE 
2 6th  DECEMBER,  1799. 


BY  MAJOR-GENERAL  HENRY  LEE . 


In  obedience  to  your  will,  I  rife 
your  humble  organ,  with  the  hope  of  exe¬ 
cuting  a  part  of  the  fyllem  of  public  mourn¬ 
ing  which  you  have  been  pleafed  to  adopt, 
commemorative  of  the  death  of  the  mod 
Illufirious  and  moll  beloved  perfonage  this 
country  has  ever  produced  ;  and  which, 
while  it  tranfmits  to  polterity  your  fenfe 
of  the  awful  event,  faintly  reprefents  your 
knowledge  of  the  confummate  excellence 
you  fo  cordially  honor* 


MEMORY  of 


84 

Desperate  indeed  is  any  attempt  on 
earth  to  meet  correfpondently  this  difpen- 
fation  of  Heaven  :  For,  while  with  pious 
refignation  we  fubmifc  to  the  will  of  an  all- 
gracious  Providence,  we  can  never  ceafe 
lamenting  in  our  finite  view  of  Omnipo¬ 
tent  Wifdom,  the  heart-rending  privation 
for  which  our  nation  weeps.  When  the 
civilized  world  (hakes  to  its  centre  :  when 
every  moment  gives  birth  to  ((range  and 
momentous  changes,  when  our  peaceful 
quarter  of  the  globe,  exempt  as  it  happily 
has  been  from  any  (hare  in  the  (laughter 
of  the  human  race,  may  yet  be  compelled 
to  abandon  her  pacific  policy,  and  to  rifk 
the  doleful  cafualties  of  war:  What  limit 
is  there  to  the  extent  of  our  lofs  ?  None 
within  the  reach  of  my  words  to  exprefs  : 
None  which  your  feelings  will  not  dis¬ 
avow. 


The  founder  of  our  federate  republic 
■ — our  bulwark  in  war,  our  guide  in  peace, 
is  no  more.  Oh  that  this  were  but  queftion- 
able  I  Hope,  the  comforter  of  the  wretched, 
would  pour  into  our  agonising  hearts  its 


balmy  dew. 
for  us.  Our 


But,  alas !  there  is  no  hope 

WASHINGTON  is  removed 


WASHINGTON. 


85 


forever.  Poffeffmg  the  flouted:  frame,  and 
pured  mind,  he  had  paffed  nearly  to  his 
fixty  eighth  year,  in  the  enjoyment  of  high 
health,  when,  habituated  by  his  care  of  us 
to  neglect  hi mfelf,  a  flight  cold,  disregard¬ 
ed,  became  inconvenient  on  Friday,  op- 
preffive  on  Saturday,  and  defying  every 
medical  interpofition,  before  the  morning 
of  Sunday,  put  an  end  to  the  bed  of  men. 
An  end  did  I  fay  ? — his  fame  furvives  l 
bounded  only  by  the  limits  of  the  earth, 
and  by  the  extent  of  the  human  mind. 
He  furvives  in  our  hearts,  in  the  growing 
knowledge  of  our  children,  in  the  affec¬ 
tions  of  the  good  throughout  the  world— 
and  when  our  monuments  fhali  be  done 
away  :  When  nations  now  exiding  fhali 
be  no  more  :  When  even  our  young  and 
far  fpreading  empire  fhali  have  perifhed, 
ftill  will  our  WASHINGTON’S  glory  un¬ 
faded  fhine,  and  die  not,  until  love  of  vir¬ 
tue  ceafe  on  earth,  or  earth  itfelf  fink  into 
chaos. 

How,  my  fellow  citizens,  fhali  I  fingld 
to  your  grateful  hearts  his  pre-eminent 
worth  ?  Where  fhali  I  begin  in  opening  to 

H  ~ 


85 


MEMORT  of 


your  view  a  character  throughout  fubiime  ? 
Shall  I  fpeak  of  his  warlike  achievements, 
all  Fpringing  from  obedience  to  his  coun¬ 
try’s  will— all  directed  to  his  country’s 

good  ? 

Will  you  go  with  me  to  the  banks 
of  the  Monongahela,  to  fee  your  youthful 
WASHINGTON,  fupporting  in  the  dif- 
mal  hour  of  Indian  victory,  the  ill  fated 
Braddock ,  and  faving,  by  his  judgment  and 
by  his  valor,  the  remains  of  a  defeated  ar¬ 
my,  preiTed  by  the  conquering  favage  foe  ? 
Or,  when  opprefied  America,  nobly  refolv- 
ing  to  rilk  her  all  in  defence  of  her  violat¬ 
ed  rights,  he  was  elevated  by  the  unani¬ 
mous  voice  of  Congrefs  to  the  command  of 
her  Armies  :  Will  you  follow  him  to  the 
high  grounds  of  Bolton,  where  to  an  undif- 
ciplined,  courageous  &  virtuous. yeomanry, 
his  prefence  gave  the  liability  of  fy Item,  and 
infufed  the  invincibility  of  love  of  Coun¬ 
try  ?  Or  (hall  I  carry  you  to  the  painful 
fcenes  of  Long  Ifland,  York  lQand,  and 
New-Jerfey,  when, combating  fuperior  and 
gallant  armies, aided  by  powerful  fleets,  and 
led  by  Chiefs  high  in  the  roll  of  fame,  he 
flood  the  bulwark  of  our  fafetv  •  undifmay- 


WASHINGTON. 


87 


cd  by  dlfafler ;  unchanged  by  change  of 
fortune.  Or  will  you  view  him  in  the  pre¬ 
carious  fields  of  Trenton,  where  deep 
glooms  unnerving  every  arm,  reigned 
triumphant  through  our  thinned,  worn 
down,  unaided  ranks  :  himfelf  unmoved, — 
Dreadful  was  the  night  ;  it  was  about  this 
time  of  winter — The  florm  raged — theDel- 
aware  rolling  furioufly  with  floating  ice 
forbade  the  approach  of  man.  WASH¬ 
INGTON,  felf-coliecled,  viewed  the  tre¬ 
mendous  fcene— “his  Country  called;  un¬ 
appalled  by  furrounding  dangers,  he  pafled 
to  the  hoflile  fhore :  he  fought  ;  he  con¬ 
quered.  The  morning  fun  cheered  the 
American  world.  Our  country  rofe  on 
the  event  ;  and  her  dauntlefs  Chief  purfu- 
ing  his  blow,  completed  in  the  lawns  of 
Princeton  what  his  vaft  foul  had  conceived 
on  the  fhores  of  Delaware. 

Thence  to  the  flrong  grounds  of 
Morris  Town  he  led  his  fmali  but  gallant 
band,  and  through  an  eventful  winter,  by 
the  high  efforts  of  his  genius,  whofe 
matchlefs  force  was  meafurable  only  by  the 
growth  of  difficulties,  he  held  in  check  for¬ 
midable  hoflile  legions^  conducted  by  a 


MEMORY  op 


10 

Chief  experienced  in  the  art  of  war,  and 
famed  for  his  valor  on  the  ever  memorable 
heights  of  Abraham,  where  fell  Wolfe , 
Montcalm ,  and  fince  our  much  lamented 
Montgomery ,  all  covered  with  glory.  In 
this  fortunate  interval,  produced  by  his 
mafterly  conduct,  our  fathers,  ourfelves, 
animated  by  his  refifllefs  example,  rallied 
around  our  Country’s  ftandard,  and  con¬ 
tinued  to  follow  her  beloved  Chief,  through 
the  various  and  trying  feenes  to  which  the 
deflinies  of  our  Union  led. 

Who  is  there  that  has  forgotten  the  vales 
of  Brandywine— -the  fields  of  Germantown, 
or  the  plains  of  Monmouth  ?  Every  where 
prefent,  wants  of  every  kind  obflru&ing, 
numerous  and  valiant  Armies  encounter* 
ing,  himfelf  a  hoft,  he  affuaged  our  fu fibr¬ 
in  gs,  limited  our  privations,  and  upheld 
our  tottering  Republic.  Shall  1  difplay  to 
you  the  fpread  of  the  fire  of  his  foul,  by  re- 
hearfing  the  praifes  of  the  Hero  of  Sarato¬ 
ga,  and  his  much  loved  compeer  of  the 
Carolinas  !  ^To,  our  WASHINGTON 
wears  not  borrowed  glory  ;  To  Gates — to 
Green ,  he  gave  without  refer ve  the  ap- 
plaufe  due  to  their  eminent  merit  \  and 


WASHINGTON. 


89 


long  may  the  Chiefs  of  Saratoga  and  of 
Eutavvs  receive  the  grateful  refpeft  of  a 
grateful  people. 

Moving  in  his  own  orbit,  he  imparted 
heat  and  light  to  his  mod  didant  fateilites ; 
and  combining  the  phyfical  &  moral  force  of 
all  within  his  fphere,  with  irrefutable  weight 
he  took  his  courfe,  commiferating  folly, 
difdaining  vice,  difmaying  treafon,  and  in¬ 
vigorating  defpondency,  until  the  aufpici- 
ous  hour  arrived,  when,  united  with  the  in¬ 
trepid  forces  of  a  potent  and  magnanimous 
ally,  he  brought  to  fubmiflion  the  fince  con¬ 
queror  of  India;  thus  fmifhing  his  long1 
career  of  military  glory  with  a  luftre  cor- 
refponding  with  his  great  name,  and  in  this 
his  laff  a£l  of  war,  affixing  the  feal  of  fate 
to  our  Nation’s  birth. 

To  the  horrid  din  of  war  fweet  peace 
fucceeded  ;  and  our  virtuous  Chief,  mind¬ 
ful  only  of  the  public  good,  in  a  moment 
tempting  perfonal  aggrandizement,  hufh- 
ed  the  difcontents  of  growing  fedition,  and 
furrendering  his  power  into  the  hands  from 
which  he  had  received  it,  converted  his 

¥,2 


MEMORT  o$ 


9<5 

fwordinto  a  ploughlhare,  teaching  an  ad¬ 
miring  world  that  to  be  truly  great,  you 
muft  be  truly  good. 

Was  I  to  flop  here  the  picture  would 
be  incomplete,  and  the  talk  impofed  un- 
finifhed — great  as  was  our  WASHING¬ 
TON  in  war,  and  much  as  did  that  great- 
nefs  contribute  to  produce  the  American 
Republic,  it  is  not  in  war  alone  his  pre¬ 
eminence  (lands  confpicuous — his  various 
talents  combining  all  the  capacities  of  a 
Statefman  with  thole  of  a  foldier,  fitted  him 
alike  to  guide  the  Councils  and  the  Armies 
of  our  Nation.  Scarcely  had  he  reded 
from  his  martial  toils,  while  his  invaluable 
parental  advice  was  dill  founding  in  our 
ears,  when  he  who  had  been  our  fhield  and 
our  fword,  was  called  forth  to  aft  a  lefs 
fplendid  but  more  important  part. 

Possessing  a  clear  and  penetrating 
mind,  a  drong  &  found  judgment,  calmnefs 
and  temper  for  deliberation,  with  invinci¬ 
ble  firmnefs  and  perfeverance  in  resolutions 
maturely  formed,  drawing  information 
from  all,  acting  from  himfelf,  with  incor¬ 
ruptible  integrity  and  unvarying  patriotifm: 


WASHINGTON. 


9 i 

his  own  fuperiority  and  the  public  coni- 
>dence  alike  marked  himas  the  mandefigned 
by  Heaven  to  lead  in  the  great  political  as 
well  as  military  events  which  have  diftin- 
guifhed  the  sera  of  his  life. 

The  finger  of  an  over-ruling  Provi¬ 
dence,  pointing  at  WASHINGTON,  was 
neither  miftaken  nor  unobfcrved  ;  when, 
to  realize  the  vaft  hopes  to  which  our  Re¬ 
volution  had  given  birth,  a  change  of  politi¬ 
cal  fyflem  became  indifpenfable. 

How  novel,  how  grand  the  fpeflacle. 
Independent  States  ftretched  over  an  im- 
menfe  territory,  and  known  only  by  com¬ 
mon  difficulty,  clinging  to  their  Union  as 
the  rock  of  their  fafety,  deciding  by  frank 
comparifon  of  their  relative  condition,  to 
rear  on  that  rock,  under  the  guidance  of 
reafon,  a  common  Government  through 
whofe  commanding  prote&ion,  Liberty  and 
Order,  with  their  long  train  of  bleffings, 
fhould  be  fafeto  themfelves,  and  the  fure 
inheiitance  of  their  poflerity. 

This  arduous  talk  devolved  on  Citi¬ 
zens  felected  by  the  people,  from  know¬ 
ledge  of  their  wifdom  and  confidence  in 


MEMORT  of 


92 

their  virtue.  In  this  auguft  affembly  of 
fages  and  of  patriots,  WASHINGTON  of 
courfe  was  found  ;  and,  as  if  acknowledged 
to  be  mod  wife,  where  all  were  wife,  with 
one  voice  he  was  declared  their  Chief.  How 
well  he  merited  this  rare  diftinction,, how 
faithful  were  the  labors  of  himfelf  and  his 
compatriots,  the  work  of  their  hands  and 
our  union,  flrength  and  profperity,  the 
fruits  of  that  work,  belt  atteft. 

But  to  have  efTentially  aided  in  pre- 
fenting  to  his  Country  this  confummation  of 
her  hopes,  neither  fatished  the  claims  of 
his  fellow-citizens  on  his  talents,  nor  thofe 
duties  which  the  pofteflion  of  thofe  talents 
impofed.  Heaven  had  not  infufed  into  his 
mind  fuch  an  uncommon  (hare  of  its  setheri- 
al  fpirit  to  remain  unemployed,  nor  be  flow¬ 
ed  on  him  his  genius  unaccompanied  by  the 
correfponding  duty  of  devoting  it  to  the 
common  good.  To  have  framed  a  con  ft  i- 
tution,  was  {hewing  only,  without  realiz¬ 
ing  the  general  happinefs.  This  great 
work  remained  to  be  done,  and  America, 
fteadfaft  in  her  preference,  with  one  voice 
fummoned  her  beloved  WASHINGTON, 
unpractifed  as  he  was  ia  the  duties  of  civil 


WASHINGTON. 


95 


adminiftration,  to  execute  this  lad  acl  in 
the  completion  of  the  National  felicity* 
Obedient  to  her  call,  he  affiumed  the  high 
office  with  that  felf-didrud  peculiar  to  his 
innate  modedy,  the  condant  attendant  of 
pre- eminent  virtue. — What  was  the  burd 
of  joy  through  our  anxious  land  on  this 
exhilerating  event  is  known  to  us  all.  The 
aged,  the  young,  the  brave,  the  fair,  rivall¬ 
ed  each  other  in  demondrations  of  their 
gratitude  ;  and  this  high  wrought  delight¬ 
ful  fcene  was  heightened  in  its  effefl  by  the 
fingular  con  ted  between  the  zeal  of  the 
beflowers  and  the  avoidance  of  the  receiver 
of  the  honors  bellowed.  Commencing  his 
adminidration,  what  heart  is  not  charmed 
with  the  recolledlion  of  the  pure  and  wife 
principles  announced  by  himfelf,  as  the 
bads  of  his  political  life  ?  He  bed  under- 
flood  the  indidbluble  union  between  virtue 
and  happinefs,  between  duty  and  advan¬ 
tage,  between  the  genuine  maxims  of  an 
honed  and  magnanimous  policy,  and  the 
folid  rewards  of  public  profperity  and  indi¬ 
vidual  felicity  :  watching  with  an  equal  and 
comprehenfive  eye  over  this  great  affiem- 
blage  of  communities  and  intereds,  he  laid 
the  foundations  of  our  National  policy  in 


54 


MEMORY  os 


the  unerring  immutable  principles  of  mo¬ 
rality,  baled  on  religion,  exemplifying  the 
pre-eminence  of  free  government,  by  all 
the  attributes  which  win  the  affections  of  its 
citizens  or  command  the  refpect  of  the 
world. 

£i  0 fortunatos  dimiurn.fuaft  bona  norint  !” 

Leading  thro  the  complicated  diffi¬ 
culties  produced  by  previous  obligations 
and  conflicting  interelts,  feconded  by  fu ex¬ 
ceeding  Houfes  of  Congrefs,  enlightened 
and  patriotic,  he  furmounted  all  original 
obftruCtions,  and  brightened  the  path  of 
our  National  felicity. 

The  Prefidential  term  expiring,  his 
folicitude  to  exchange  exaltation  for  hu¬ 
mility  returned,  with  a  force  increafed 
with  increafe  of  age  ;  and  he  had  prepared 
his  farewell  addrefs  to  his  Countrymen 
proclaiming  his  intention,  when  the  united 
interpofition  of  all  around  him,  enforced  by 
the  eventful  profpeCts  of  the  epoch,  produc¬ 
ed  a  further  facrifice  of  inclination  to  duty. 
The  election  of  PrefiJent  followed,  and 
WASHINGTON,  by  the  unanimous  vote 
of  the  Nation,  was  called  to  refume  the 
Chiu  Magiftracy  :  what  a  wonderful  fix-* 


WASHINGTON. 


95 


lure  of  confidence  !— Which  attracts  moft 
our  admiration,  a  people  fo  correct,  or  a 
citizen  combining  an  aflemblage  of  talents 
forbidding  rivalry,  and  Rifling  even  envy 
itfelf  ?  Such  a  Nation  deferves  to  be  happy, 
fuch  a  Chief  muR  be  forever  revered. 

War,  long  menaced  by  the  Indian 
tribes,  now  broke  out ;  and  the  terrible 
conflict  deluging  Europe  with  blood,  be¬ 
gan  to  filed  its  baneful  influence  over  our 
happy  land.  To  the  firfl  outflretcning  his 
invincible  arm,  under  the  orders  of  the 
gallant  Wayne,  the  American  Eagle  foared 
triumphant  through  diflant  forefls.  Peace 
followed  victory,  and  the  melioration  of 
the  condition  of  the  enemy  followed  peace. 
Godlike  virtue,  which  uplifts  even  the  fub- 
dued  favage ! 

To  the  fecond  he  eppofed  himfelf. 
New  and  delicate  was  the  conjuncture,  and 
great  was  the  Rake.  Soon  did  his  pene-^ 
t rating  mind  difeern  and  feize  the  only 
courfe,  continuing  to  us  all,  the  bleflings 
enjoyed.  He  iffued  his  proclamation  of 
neutrality.  This  index  to  'his  whole  fub- 
fequent  conduct,  was  functioned  by  the  ap« 


MEMORT  of 


96 

probation  of  both  houfes  of  Congrefs, 
and  by  the  approving  voice  of  the  peo¬ 
ple. 

To  this  fublime  policy  he  inviolably 
adhered,  unmoved  by  foreign  intrufion, 
unfhaken  by  domeflic  turbulence. 

Juftum  et  tenacem  propofiti  viru3i, 

“  Non  civium  ardor  prava  jubencium, 

<(  Non  vultus  inftantis  tyranni 
<r  Mcnte  quatit  folida. 

Maintaining  his  pacific  fyflem  at 
the  expence  of  no  duty,  America  faithful 
to  herfelf  and  unflamed  in  her  honor,  con¬ 
tinued  to  enjoy  the  delights  of  peace,  while 
afflicted  Europe  mourns  in  every  quarter 
under  the  accumulated  miferies  of  an  un¬ 
exampled  war  ;  miferies  in  w  hich  our  hap¬ 
py  country  mud  have  fliared,  had  not  our 
pre-eminent  WASHINGTON  been  as 
firm  in  council  as  he  was  brave  in  the 
held. 

Pursuing  ftedfaftly  his  courfe  he 
held  fafe  the  public  happinefs,  preventing 
foreign  war,  and  quelling  internal  difor- 
der,  tiil  the  revolving  period  of  a  third 


WASHINGTON. 


tr 

election  approached,  when  he  executed  his 
interrupted  but  inextinguifhable  defire  of 
returning  to  the  humble  walks  of  private 
life. 


The  promulgation  of  his  fixed  refo- 
lution,  flopped  the  anxious  withes  of  an 
affedlionate  people  from  adding  a  third 
unanimous  teflimonial  of  their  unabated 
confidence  in  the  man  fo  long  enthroned 
in  their  hearts.  When,  before,  was  affec¬ 
tion  like  this  exhibited  on  earth  ? — Turn 
over  the  records  of  ancient  Greece — Re¬ 
view  the  annals  of  mighty  Rome — -exam¬ 
ine  the  volumes  of  modern  Europe  :  you 
fearch  in  vain.  America  and  her  WASH¬ 
INGTON  only  afford  the  dignified  ex¬ 
emplification. 

The  illuflrious  perfonage  called  by  the 
national  voice  in  fucceflion  to  the  arduous 
office  of  guiding  a  free  people,  had  new 
difficulties  to  encounter ;  the  amicable 
effort  of  fettling  our  difficulties  with  France, 
begun  by  WASHINGTON,  and  purfued 
by  his  fucceffor  in  virtue  as  in  Ration,  prov¬ 
ing  abortive,  America  took  meafuree  of 

I 


9*  MEMORT  a* 

feir-defence.  No  fooner  was  the  public 
mind  roufed  by  a  profpecl  of  danger, 
than  every  eye  was  turned  to  the  friend  of 
all,  though  fecluded  from  public  view,  and 
grey  in  public  fervice  ;  the  virtuous  veter¬ 
an  following  his  plough, f  received  the  un- 
ex  peeled  fummons  with  mingled  emotions 
of  indignation,  at  the  unmerited  ill-treat¬ 
ment  of  his  country,  and  of  a  determina- 
tion  once  more  to  rifk  his  all  in  her  de¬ 
fence. 

The  annunciation  of  thefe  feelings, 
in  his  affecting  letter  to  the  Prefident,  ac¬ 
cepting  the  command  of  the  army,  con¬ 
cludes  his  official  conduct. 

First  in  war — firfh  in  peace ' — and 
find  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen,  he 
was  fecond  to  none  in  the  humble  and  en¬ 
dearing  feenes  of  private  life  ;  pious,  juft, 
humane,  temperate  and  fin-cere ;  uniform, 
dignified,  and  commanding,  his  example 
was  as  edifying  to  all  around  him,  as  were 
the  effects  of  that  example  lading. 

+  General  Washington,  though  opulent, 
gave  much  of  his  time  and  attention  to  practical 


WASHINGTON . 


99 


To  his  equals  he  was  condescending, 
to  his  inferiors  kind,  and  to  the  dear  ob¬ 
ject  of  his  affections,  exetnplarily  tender  ; 
correct  throughout,  vice  fhuddered  in  his 
prefence,  and  virtue  always  felt  his  fofter- 
ing  hand  ;  the  purity  of  his  private  char- 
after  gave  effulgence  to  his  public  virtues. 

His  lad  fcene  comported  with  the 
whole  tenor  of  his  life— Although  in  ex¬ 
treme  pain,  not  a  figh,  not  a  groan  efcaped 
him ;  and  with  undiflurbed  ferenity  lie 
clofed  his  well  fpent  life.  Such  was  the 
man  America  has  loft — Such  was  the  man 
for  whom  our  nation  mourns. 

Mjethinks  I  fee  his  auguff  image, 
and  hear  falling  from  his  venerable  lips 
thefe  deep  finking  words: 

<£  Cease,  Sons  of  America,  lamenting 
eur  reparation  :  Go  on,  and  confirm  by 
your  wifdom  thefruits  of  our  joint  councils, 
joint  efforts,  and  common  dangers  :  rever¬ 
ence  religion  ;  diffufe  knowledge  through¬ 
out  your  land  ;  patronize  the  Arts  and 
fciences  \  let  Liberty  and  Order  be  in¬ 
separable  companions.  Controul  party 
fpirit,  the  bane  of  free  Government  \  ob- 


MEMORT  of 


ferve  good  faith  to,  and  cultivate  peace 
with  all  nations  ;  {hut  up  every  avenue  to 
foreign  influence  ;  contract  rather  than  ex¬ 
tend  national  connection  ;  rely  on  your- 
felves  only  :  Be  Americans  in  thought, 
word,  and  deed— Thus  will  you  give  im¬ 
mortality  to  that  union,  which  was  the 
conftant  objeCt  of  my  terrefl  rial  labors  ; 
thus  will  you  preferve  unclifturbed  to  the 
latefl:  poflerity,  the  felicity  of  a  people  to 
me  mo  ft  dear  ;  and  thus  w  ill  you  fupply 
(if  my  happinefs  is  now  aught  to  you)  the 
only  vacancy  in  the  round  of  pure  blifs 
high  Heaven  bellows,” 


WASHINGTON. 


lot 


EULOG  r. 


ON  THE  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GEORGE 
WASHINGTON,  DELIVERED  AT 
NEWBURY  PORT,  2d. 
JANUARY,  1800. 


BY  THOMAS  PAINE,  A.  M. 


AMERICANS. 

The  Saviour  of  your  countr 
has  obtained  his  lad  viflorv.  Havin 

j 

reached  the  fumtnit  of  human  perfection, 
he  has  quitted  the  region  of  human  glory. 
Conqueror  of  Time ,  he  has  triumphed  over 
mortality;  Legate  of  Heaven  fit  has  returned 
with  the  tidings  of  his  million  ;  Father  of  his 
People ,  he  has  afeended  to  advocate  their 
caufe  in  the  bofom  of  his  God.  Solemn, 
cc  as  it  were  a  paure  in  nature,”  was  his 
tranfit  to  eternity  ; — thronged  by  the 
fhades  of  heroes,  his  approach  to  the  con¬ 
fines  of  blifs pseaned  by  the  fong  of  an¬ 
gels,  his  journey  beyond  the  liars  1 

la 


to 


1 02 


MEMORT  op 


The  voice  of  a  grateful  and  affli£ked 
people  has  pronounced  the  eulogium  of 
their  departed  hero — <c  Firji  in  war ,  firji 
in  peace ,  firji  in  ihe  hearts  of  his  coun - 
try  nun J’  That  this  exalted  tribute  is  yuft- 
ly  due  to  his  memory,  the  fear* honored 
veteran,  who  has  fought  under  the  banners 
of  his  glory,  the  enraptured  flatefman,  who 
has  bowed  to  the  dominion  of  his  elo¬ 
quence,  the  hardy  cultivator,  whofe  foil 
has  been  defended  by  the  prodigies  of  his 
valor,  the  protedted  citizen,  whofe  peace¬ 
ful  rights  have  been  fecured  by  the  vigi¬ 
lance  of  his  wifdom  ;  yea,  every  fibre,  that 
can  vibrate  in  the  heart  of  an  American, 
will  atteft  with  agonized  fenfibility* 

Born  to  direct  the  deffiny  of  em¬ 
pires,  his  character  was  as  majeftic,  as  the 
events,  to  which  it  was  attached,  were  il¬ 
ia  ft  rious.  In  the  delineation  of  its  fea¬ 
tures,  the  vivid  pencil  of  Genius  cannot 
brighten  a  trait,  nor  the  blighting  breath 
of  Calumny  obfeure.  His  principles  were 
the  refult  of  organic  philofophy,  his  fuccefs 
of  moral  j office.  His  integrity  affirmed 
the  port  of  command,  his  intelligence  the 
afpecl  of  infpiration.  Glory,  to  many  im- 


WASHINGTON. 


103 

pregnable,  he  obtained  without  ambition ; 
—popularity,  to  all  inconftant,  he  enjoyed 
without  jealoufy.  The  one  was  his  from 
admiration,  the  other  from  gratitude.  The 
former  embellifhed,  but  could  not  reward  ; 
the  latter  followed,  but  never  could  lead 
him.  The  robuil  vigor  of  his  virtue,  like 
the  undazzled  eye  of  the  Eagle,  was  inac- 
ceffibie  to  human  weaknefs ;  and  the  un- 
afpiring  temperament  of  his  paffions,  like 
the  regenerating  allies  of  the  Phoenix,  gave 
new  life  to  the  greatnefs  it  could  not  ex- 
titfguifh.  In  the  imperial  dignity  of  his 
perfon,  was  exhibited  the  augull  flature  of 
his  mind  : 

<(  See  what  a  grace  was  feated  on  his  brow,  » 
te  An  eye  like  Mars,  the  front  of  Jove  him fe If, 

*f  A  combination,  and  a  form  indeed, 

-  “  Where  every  God  did  feem  to  fet  his  feal, 

“  To  give  the  world  affarance  of  a  man  !”* 

Oppressed  by  the  difcorifo-late  fenfi- 
bilities,  which  this  melancholy  occafioa 
has  excited,  yet  infpired  by  a  veneration, 
which  no  fenfe  of  calamity  can  fufpend, 
how  fhall  the  feeble  eulogill  of  the  mo 


*  Shakefpear, 


104 


MEMORY  cjt 


ment  retrace  the  path  of  the  Hero  through 
the  rugged  acclivities  of  his  fame — how 
ihadow  the  outlines  of  a  life,  whofe  in¬ 
fluence  on  fociety  has  baffled  the  imitation 
of  the  wife — how  define  the  great  propor¬ 
tions  of  a  character,  which,  like  the  elec¬ 
tric  principle,  can  only  be  deferibed  by  its 
e  fie  els  ?  What  wing  of  human  defeription 
fhall  foar  to  the  unclouded  height  of  his 
talents — what  chemiflry  of  human  judg¬ 
ment  fhall  feparate  the  elements  of  his  vir¬ 
tues  ?— The  magnificence  of  his  deeds  has 
outvied  the  heraldry  of  fancy — and  the 
purity  of  his  motives  has  bewildered  the 
deductions  of  reafon. 

From  his  firfl  appearance  on  the  the¬ 
atre  of  public  life,  ere  the  rnodefl  fimpli- 
city  of  enterprize  had  invited  the  decora¬ 
tions  of  artificial  honor,  ere  the  hair¬ 
breadth  efcapes”  of  the  Monongahela  had 
elicited  the  native  energies  of  heroifm,  to 
the  maturefl  era  of  his  excellence,  when 
victory  had  nothing  left  to  beflow,  and 
Fame  herfelf  had  defpaired  of  rendering  to 
Ti is  merits  their  equivalent  reward,  we  be¬ 
hold  the  fame  undeviating  courfe  of  mag¬ 
nanimous  action,  rifing,  like  the  fun,  in 


WASHINGTON. 


105 


gradual  and  majefHc  progredion.  In  no 
fituation,  to  which  the  emergencies  of  his 
country  have  called  him,  however  inflat¬ 
ed  with  peril,  or  fortified  by  profperity,  do 
we  at  any  time  detect  his  invincible  equan¬ 
imity,  modified  by  incident.  In  no  climax 
of  fortune,  do  we  behold  him,  dejedted  by 
obltacle,  or  elevated  by  fuccefs  ; — -defper- 
ate  in  danger,  or  fanguine  in  triumph. 
Deliberate  to  concert,  he  was  vigorous  to 
execute intrepid  to  conquer,  he  was 
humane  to  forgive.  In  council,  he  unit¬ 
ed  the  calculations  of  the  veteran,  to  the 
ruling  impulfe  of  the  patriot : — -In  battle, 
he  never  fed  the  blood  of  an  enemy  but 
for  vidlory,  nor  gained  a  vittory  but  for  his 
country. 

As  the  diredlor  of  that  important  and 
dubious  coined,  which  ifi'ued  in  the  eftab- 
lidiment  of  our  liberty  and  Independence, 
he  difplayed  an  impreffive  grandeur  of  ex¬ 
ertion,  which  marfhalled  into  hoftility  the 
fluctuating  vigor  of  his  countrymen,  and 
is  Hill  remembered  with  awe  in  the  adon- 
ifliment  of  nations.  To  the  rapacious  cab¬ 
inet  of  the  mother  country,’  which  had  re¬ 
cently  learnt,  in  the  difadrous  campaign  of 


MEMORT  o * 


ic  6 

Brad  Jock ,  that  her  glory  was  mortal,  he 
had  given  his  name  a  formidable  eftima- 
tion  by  his  military  prowefs  on  that  mem¬ 
orable  occafion.  In  the  enjoyment  of  an 
ample  paternal  domain,  he  was  repofing 
under  the  groves  of  Fame  and  Philofophy,- 
when  the  chafed  lion  of  New-England 
leaped  on  the  daring  huntfman,  that  had 
galled  him,”  and  boldly  bade  defiance  to 
his  power.  The  dawn  of  our  revolution 
was  overfhadowed  with  clouds,  that  would 
have  damped  the  ardor  of  any  people, 
whofe  bofoms  were  not  infpired  by  the  in- 
controlable  enthufiafni  of  liberty.  But 
what  hope  of  fuccefs  could  this  high-born 
principle,  though  {Emulated  by  injury,  af¬ 
ford  to  the  unwarlike  peafantry  of  a  coun¬ 
try,  without  arms,  without  difeipline,  with¬ 
out  funds,  without  a  leader,  in  contending 
with  an  empire,  whofe  policy  and  valor 
had  for  centuries  kept  the  nations  of  Eu¬ 
rope  in  its  toils  ?  Yet,  at  this  inaufpicious 
juncture,  when  every  profpect  was  envelop¬ 
ed  with  difafter,  when  unfuccefsful  oppo- 
fition  could  prornife  no  reward  but  aggra¬ 
vated  opprefllon,  when  political  infidelity 
had  alrnoft  chilled  with  difmay  the  kind¬ 
ling  fervor  cf  Americans  j— -at  this  mo* 


WASHING  TO  N. 


toy 

ment,  fo  portentous,  fo  gloomy,  did  the 
calm,  inflexible,  unaflimilating  WASH¬ 
INGTON,  relinquifh  without  reludtance 
the  magnificent  retirement  of  wealth  and 
honor  ;  and,  committing  to  the  hazard  of 
the  contefi,  the  pleafures  that  allured  him 
to  feclufion,  and  the  character  that  attach¬ 
ed  him  to  life,  appealed  to  the  God  of 
armies  to  attefl  a  foldier’s  oath — I  will 
iriimph ,  or  die  with  my  count rymen  !”— 
Animated  by  his  guiding  intelligence, 
America  awoke  to  the  confcioufnefs  of  her 
powers  ;  and,  realifmg  the  boafi  of  the 
Roman  hero,  an  army,  organized  by  his 
creative  difcipline,  arofe  at  his  command. 

Through  the  viciflitudes  of  a  war, 
Angularly  fludluating  in  its  fortunes,  and 
defolating  in  its  eifedts,  he  difeovered  a 
conftant  principle  of  adtion,  which  acquir¬ 
ed  no  luflre  from  the  brilliant  exploits  it 
achieved,  but  derived  all  its  glory  from  its 
own  original  greatnefs.  Self-dependent, 
and  felf-elevated,  it  difdained  the  fictitious 
aid  of  circum  fiance  ;  and  never  did  it  fliine 
with  more  fplendor  and  energy,  than  when 
fortune  had  deferred  him,  and  his  country 
had  defpaired.  Theadiivity  of  a  fortitude. 


MEMORY  of 


io8 

whofe  (lability  was  reafon,  invigorated  the 
operations  of  an  intellect,  vvhofe  object  was 
liberty.  What  but  this  invincible  confti- 
tution  of  foul,  whofe  gigantic  philofophy 
always  rofe  with  the  difficulties  it  encoun¬ 
tered,  could  have  fuftained  the  drooping 
caufe  of  an  half-conquered  people,  at  that 
momentous  and  almofl  hopelefs  crifis, 
when  the  banks  of  the  Delaware  were  lin¬ 
ed  by  a  triumphant  enemy,  impatient  for 
our  fubj ugation  ;  when  the  ranks  of  our 
brave  defenders,  thinned  by  battle,  by  fam¬ 
ine  and  retreat,  crimfoned  their  flying  en¬ 
campments  with  the  blood  of  their  foot- 
fleps ;  when  the  fate  of  a  continent  was 
fufpended  on  the  incredible  exertions  of  a 
night,  and  a  confpiracy  of  the  elements  op- 
poled  the  progrefs  of  the  eventful  enter- 
prize  !  The  mind,  that  was  inacceffible  to 
defpair,  was  invulnerable  to  difafler  ;  and 
at  the  inftanf,  when,  the  fangs  of  our  Inva¬ 
der  were  unclutched  to  fallen  on  his  prey, 
when  his  pampered  ambition  was  gloating 
on  the  fpoils  of  unconditional  fubrniffion, 
the  diflant  thunder  of  the  camion  at  Tren¬ 
ton  aroufed  him  from  his  dreams  of  do¬ 
minion,  and  convinced  him  that  the  re- 
fources  of  a  WASHINGTON  were  not 


WASHINGTON. 


109 

to  be  computed  by  the  extent  of  his  en¬ 
trenchments,  nor  his  activity  to  be  palfied 
by  a  campaign  of  difaders. 

To  the  pen  of  the  hidorian  mud  be 
refigned  the  more  arduous  and  elaborate 
tribute  of  judice  to  thofe  efforts  of  heroic 
and  political  virtue,  which  conduced  the 
American  people  to  peace  and  liberty.— 
The  vanquifhed  foe  retired  from  our  ref- 
piring  fhores,  and  left  to  the  Controiing 
Genius ,  who  repelled  them,  the  gratitude 
of  his  own  country,  and  the  admiration, 
of  the  world.  The  time  had  now  arriv¬ 
ed,  which  was  to  apply  the  touch  done  to 
his  integrity — which  was  to  affay  the  affin¬ 
ity  of  his  principles  to  the  dandard  of  im¬ 
mutable  right.  Enjoying  the  unbounded 
confidence  of  an  emancipated  people, 
whofe  filial  reverence  had  affociated  in  his 
charadler,  a  greatnefs,  unexampled  by  pat- 
riotifm,  with  a  purity,  unfunned  by  fufpi- 
cion — and  commanding  the  implicit  affec¬ 
tions  of  an  army  of  veterans,  whofe  unli¬ 
quidated  demands,  on  the  judice  of  an  im- 
paverifhed  public,  might  have  rendered 
them  zealous  indruments  of  ambition— -the 
deliverer  of  his  country  was  now  the  arbi- 

K 


I  IO 


MEMORT  of 


ter  of  its  fate.  It  was  now  the  flood-tide 
of  his  glory,  on  which  he  had  onTy  to  em¬ 
bark,  and  the  current  would  have  wafted 
him  to  his  haven.  That  decifive  moment 
in  the  exigence  of  nations  and  men,  on 
which  the  deflinies  of  both  are  fufpended, 
was  now  flitting  on  the  dial’s  point  of  the 
crifis.' — On  the  one  hand,  a  realm,  to  which 
he  was  endeared  by  his  fervices,  aimoft  in¬ 
vited  him  to  empire  :  On  the  other,  the 
liberty,  to  whofe  protection  his  life  had 
been  devoted,  was  the  ornament  and  boon 

of  human  nature. - -WASHINGTON 

could  not  depart  from  his  own  great  felf. 
His  country  was  free  ; — he  was  no  longer 
a  General !  Sublime  fpectacle !  more  ele¬ 
vating  to  the  pride  of  virtue,  than  the 
fovereignty  of  the  globe  united  to  the  fcep- 
tre  of  ages !  Enthroned  in  the  hearts  of 
his  countrymen,  the  gorgeous  pageantry 
of  prerogative  was  unworthy  the  majefty 
of  his  dominion.  That  effulgence  of  mii- 
itiary  character,  which  in  ancient  dates  has 
blafled  the  rights  of  the  people,  whofe  re¬ 
nown  it  had  brightened,  was  not  here  per¬ 
mitted,  by  the  hero,  from  whom  it  eman¬ 
ated,  to  fhine  with  fo  deftru&ive  a  luftre. 
Its  beams, though  intenfely  refplendent,  did 


WASHINGTON, ; 


in 


not  wither  the  young  blofToms  of  our  In¬ 
dependence  ;  and  liberty,  like  the  burning 
bujh ,  flouriflied  unconfumed  by  the  glory 
which  furrounded  it. 

To  the  illuflrious  founder  of  our  re¬ 
public  was  it  reserved,  to  exhibit  the  ex¬ 
ample  of  a  magnanimity,  that  commanded 
vi&ory — of  a  moderation,  that  retired  from 
triumph.  Unlike  the  erratic  meteors  of 
ambition,  whofe  flaming  path  {beds  a  dif- 
aflrous  light  on  the  pages  of  hiflory,  his 
bright  orb,  eclipfing  the  luminaries,  among 
which  it  rolled,  never  portended  “  fearful 
change”  to  religion,  nor  from  its  “  gol¬ 
den  trefies”  fliook  peflilence  on  empire. 
What  to  other  heroes  has  been  glory, 
would  to  him  have  been  difgrace.  To  his 
intrepidity  it  would  have  added  no  honora¬ 
ry  trophy,  to  have  waded,  like  the  con¬ 
queror  of  Peru ,  through  the  blood  of  cre¬ 
dulous  millions,  to  plant  the  flandard  of 
triumph  at  the  burning  mouth  of  a  vol¬ 
cano  !  To  his  fame  it  would  have  erected 
no  auxiliary  monument,  to  have  invaded, 
like  the  ravager  of  Egypt ,  an  innocent, 
though  barbarous  nation,  to  infcribe  his 
name  on  the  pillar  of  Pcmpey ! 


ms 


MEMORT  of 


Self,  the  grand  hinge,  on  which  re¬ 
volve  the  principles  and  paffions,  that  have 
fwelled  the  obituary  of  nations,  made  not 
an  unit  in  the  calculations  of  a  mind, 
which  confidered  grandeur  as  the  infepar- 
able  incident  of  rectitude  ; — which  owed 
to  fortune  nothing  of  its  glory,  to  enthu- 
fiafoi  nothing  of  its  virtue.  From  “  hea¬ 
ven’s  high  chancery”  had  iffued  his  corn- 
million  ; — he  obeyed  the  godlike  precept 
it  contained  he  created  a  nation  !  The 
glorious  work  completed,  fo  was  his  ambi¬ 
tion.  The  reward  of  his  labors  was  the 
enjoyment  of  that  liberty  he  had  protect¬ 
ed  from  violation  ;  and  the  boalt  of  his 
pride  was  the  cultivation  of  that  foil  he 
had  defended  from  fubjedtion.  Amid  the 
fondeft  cardies  of  fame,  that  purfued  him 
to  retirement - blufh  ye  heroic  murder¬ 

ers  of  mankind  ! — never  did  the  tranfeen- 
dent  WASHINGTON,  on  the  pinnacle  of 
his  greatnefs,  deign  to  be  confcious,  that 
by  his  talents  his  country  was  free — that 
in  her  glory  himfelf  was  immortal  ! 

Public  opinion  has  in  all  ages  been  as 
volatile  as  the  air,  that  wafts  it ; — and  the 
fate,  which  has  attended  the  benefactors  of 


WASHINGTON. 


XI3 

their  country,  has  been  as  chequered  as 
<he  paffions,  and  perverfe  as  the  ingrati¬ 
tude  of  man.  A  tyrant,  fainted  by  the 
people  he  had  enflaved,  has  been  elevated 
to  a  niche  in  the  Pantheon  ;  while  a  hero, 
whofe  talents  and  fervices  had  propped  a 
failing  empire,  has  found  at  lafl  a  more 
faithful  friend  in  the  maftiff  that  conducted 
him,  than  in  the  nation  he  had  protested* 
But  it  has  been  the  peculiar  lot  of  a 
WASHINGTON,  to  unite  to  an  integri¬ 
ty,  which  could  impeach  the  ambition  of 
malice,  the  vigilance  of  an  enterprife, 
which  could  arreil  the  decifions  of  fortune. 
Through  the  long  labors  of  a  life,  which 
forms  an  epoch  in  hiflory,  never  for  a 
moment  was  he  rivalled  in  the  affe&ions 
of  his  countrymen  ;  and  to  the  honor  of 
Americans,  be  it  recorded,  that  their  grat¬ 
itude  to  the  man,  who  had  eftahlifhed  their 
Independence,  exifted,  at  the  period  of 
impending  anarchy,  the  only  cementing 
bond  of  union,  which  preferved  their  jarr¬ 
ing  interefts  from  a  deftradive  collifion. 

The  temporary  flrudure  of  the  old 
confederation,  which  had  been  planned 
merely  for  the  purpofes  of  a  revolutionary 


MEMORY  cf 


1 14 

government,  when  the  paffions  of  the  peo¬ 
ple  were  united,  was  found,  upon  a  brief 
experiment,  to  be  totally  incompetent  to 
direct  the  affairs  of  an  extending  nation, 
when  peace  had  reftored  the  complicated 
occupations  of  life,  and  demanded  a  more 
uniform  protection  from  the  energies  of 
law.  The  inconveniences,  refulting  from 
its  defeCts,  had  given  occafion  to  defign- 
ing  demagogues,  who  hoped  to  profit  by  a 
feparation  of  the  States,  to  foment  divifions 
among  a  people,  who  too  lightly  valued  the 
bleffings  they  enjoyed.  The  union  of  the 
country  was  in  danger  ;  and  the  evil  was 
of  too  baneful  a  nature  to  admit  of  a  par¬ 
tial  or  dilatory  remedy.  But,  how  novel, 
how  afpiring,  was  the  hope  of  connecting, 
under  one  compaCt  code  of  general  jurif- 
prtidence,  fo  many  diftinCt  fovereignties, 
each  jealous  of  its  independence,  without 
impairing  their  refpeCtive  authorities !  The 
unbalanced  bodies  of  the  confederacy  had 
almoft  overcome  the  attracting  power,  that 
retrained  them  ;  when  the  watchful  guar¬ 
dian  of  his  country’s  interefts,  the  heart- 
uniting  WASHINGTON  appeared,  the 
political  magnet  in  the  center  of  difcord, 
and  reconciled  and  confolidated  the  clafh- 


WASHINGTON. 


”5 

ing  particles  of  the  fyflem  in  an  indiffolu- 
ble  union  of  government. 

Possessing,  as  well  from  experience, 
as  intuition,  the  mailer  fcience,  that  could 
direct  the  impulfes  of  human  action  ; — and 
invefled,  by  the  crowded  benefadlions  of  a 
life  of  glory,  with  a  charm  of  eloquence, 
which  impreffed  the  con  visions  of  reafon 
on  the  pliant  gratitude  of  his  countrymen  ; 

* — he  ruled  in  the  councils  of  that  augufh 
body  of  llatefmen  and  patriots,  the  fruit  of 
whofe  co-operating  talents  was  the  prefent 
Conflitution  of  America.  By  the  unani¬ 
mous  fuffrage  of  an  enlightned  and  confid¬ 
ing  people,  appointed  to  the  adminiflration 
of  a  government,  in  whofe  conlirudlion  he 
had  exerted  fo  beneficial  an  influence,  he 
brought,  to  the  execution  of  that  impor¬ 
tant  and  arduous  trufl,  the  energy  of  a 
mind,  whofe  elevation  could  borrow  no 
dignity  from  fiation,  and  the  integrity  of 
a  heart,  whofe  fenfibility  could  receive  no 
bias  but  from  his  country.  With  what 
wifdom  and  vigor  he  difcharged  the  haz¬ 
ardous  and  thronging  duties  of  an  incipient 
magitlracy,  the  revival  of  political  harmo¬ 
ny,  the  extended  confidence  of  commerce, 
the  unexampled  increafe  of  national  credit 


MEMORT  os 


1 16 

and  wealth,  and  the  happinefs  and  morali¬ 
ty  of  the  people,  will  furnifh  a  more  fatis- 
fa&ory  evidence,  than  the  moft  brilliant 
defcription  of  the  panegyrift.  In  this  un¬ 
precedented  tranfition  of  office,  his  charac¬ 
ter  had  affumed  a  new  and  aftoniffiing  at¬ 
titude  ; — the  impenetrable  hardihood  of 
the  conqueror  was  rivalled  by  the  intelli¬ 
gent  policy  of  the  ftatefman.  Pierced  by 
the  glance  of  his  adminiftration,  Party, 
like  the  recreant  eye  of  the  felon,  ffirunk 
abaffied  from  his  fcrutiny  ; — and  unnerved 
by  the  fan&ity  of  his  perfon,  Degeneracy , 
like  the  viper  at  Me  lit  a,  fell  harmlefs  from 
his  hand. — Appalled  by  the  oppreffive  con¬ 
templation  of  his  greatnefs,  the  “  cloud- 
capt??  creft  of  Ambition  was  overawed  by 
the  majefty  of  virtue  ; — and,  maddened  to 
defperation  by  the  invulnerable  purity  of 
his  life,  the  fnakes  of  Envy  recoiled  upon 
the  head  of  their  miflrefs,  and  burrowed  to 
the  brain,  that  fupplied  their  venom. 

Exemplar  of  Heroes  !  in  what  fa¬ 
vored  nation,  or  eia,  (hall  the  exulting  phi- 
lanthropift  record  the  exigence  of  a  char¬ 
acter,  uniting,  like  thine,  in  one  bright 
condellation  of  talents,  every  civic  and 
military  glory,  that  blazons  in  legend,  or 


WASHINGTON.  117 

beams  in  hiflory  ?— Should  we  fearch  in 
the  archives  of  claffic  antiquity,  we  might 
find  a  wife  and  venerable  Fabius ,  who,  like 
thee,  could  fave  a  nation  by  delay 
but  never,  like  thee,  could  feize  vitlory  by 
cnterprize,  and  outftride  fortune  by  the 
forefight  of  philofophy  J— We  might  be¬ 
hold  the  majeftic  Cincinnatus ,  who,  like 
thee,  in  the  vigor  of  Roman  heroifm,  could 
return  from  the  conqueft  of  his  country’s- 
enemies,  to  his  humble  Mount  Vernon  be¬ 
yond  the  Tyber  -but  never,  like  thee,  to 
protedl  from  faction  the  liberties  he  had 
wrefted  from  invafion  !  We  might  trace 
the  great  Julius ,  extending  the  terror  of 
his  eagles,  through  realms,  before  unfhad- 
owed  by  their  pinions  — we  might  follow 
him  to  the  forum,  and  liken  to  an  elo¬ 
quence,  like  thine,  when  applauding  fenates 
Inflindlly  moved  at  his  control  but 
zuhcre^  in  the  map  of  thy  victories,  fhall  we 
find  the  banks  of  a  Rubicon  ! 

Encumbered  with  honors, the  father 
of  his  country  once  more  returned  to  the 
unambitious  abodes  of  his  afFe&ion,  follow¬ 
ed  by  the  tears  &  bleffings  of  his  fellow-citi¬ 
zens  1  The  glory,  which  had  encircled  the 


ii8 


MEMORY  of 


fcenes  of  his  aCtion,  could  not  be  exclud¬ 
ed  by  the  folitude  of  retirement.  He  had 
divefted  the  infignia  of  command,  but  his 
empire  v/as  not  diminiftied.  He  had  fur- 
rendered  the  badges  of  fame— but  the  gaze 
of  the  world  did  not  fufpend  its  veneration. 
The  name  of  WASHINGTON  was  dill  a 
battlement  to  his  country,  under  whofe 
protection  liberty  exulted,  at  whofe  terrors 
hodility  trembled. 

Ti-iougii  remote  from  the  caufes  of 
European  conteft,  yet  affeCted  by  the  con? 
vulfions  it  excited,  in  vain  had  our  Nation 
attempted  to  maintain  with  honor  an  un¬ 
protected  neutrality.  Piracy  plundered  the 
ocean  ;  Invafion  threatened  our  fhores.— 
Again,  were  the  eyes  of  America  directed 
with  trembling  folicitude  to  her  venerable 
deliverer  ;  and,  again  did  this  Man  without 
example ,  this  Patriot  without  reproach ,  whofe 
life  was  his  country,  whofe  glory  was 
mankind,  refign  with  alacrity,  to  the  caufe 
he  had  fworn  to  defend,  the  tranquil  hope 
of  repofe,  to  which  he  had  devoted  the  un¬ 
clouded  evening  of  a  life  of  toils  ! — The 
character  was  perfeCt  !  WASHINGTON 
now  touched  c;  the  higheft  point  of  all  his 


WASHINGTON. 


1 19 

greatnefs.”  A  mors  than  human  fplendor 
furrounded  him.  The  etherial  fpirit  of 
his  virtues  towered  above  the  globe  they 
adorned,  and  feemed  to  meditate  their  de¬ 
parture  to  their  native  manfion.  Of  the 
frailty  of  man,  nothing  now  remained  but 
his  mortality  ;  and,  having  accomplifhed 
the  embaffy  of  a  benevolent  Providence — 
having  been  the  founder  of  one  Nation, 
and  the  fublime  infirudtor  of  all — He  took 
his  flight  to  Haven  ;  not  like  Mahomet , 
for  his  memory  is  immortal  without  the 
ii&ion  of  a  miracle  ;  not  like  Elijah ,  for 
recording  Time  has  not  regiftered  the 
man,  on  whom  his  mantle  fhould  defcend  ; 
but  in  humble  imitation  of  that  Omnipotent 
Architect,  who  returned  from  a  created 
univerfe,  to  contemplate  from  his  throne 
the  fiupendous  fabric  he  had  eredted  ! 

The  augufl  form,  whofe  undaunted 
majefly  could  arrefl:  the  lightening,  ere  it 
fell  on  the  bofom  of  his  country,  now 
fleeps  in  blent  ruin,  untenanted  of  its  celcf- 
tial  eifence.  But  the  incorruptible  exam¬ 
ple  of  his  virtues  (hall  lurvive,  unimpaired 
by  the  corrofion  of  time  ;  and  acquire 
new  vigor  and  influence,  from  the  crimes 
of  ambition,  and  the  decay  of  empires. 


120 


MEMORY*  o t 


The  invaluable  valediction,  bequeathed  to 
the  people,  who  inherited  his  affections,  is 
the  effort  of  a  mind,  whofe  powers,  like 
thofe  of  prophecy,  could  overleap  the  tar¬ 
dy  progrefs  of  human  reafon,  and  unfold 
truth  without  the  labor  of  inveftigation. 
Impreffed  in  indelible  characters,  this  Le¬ 
gacy  of  his  Intelligence  will  defeend,  unful- 
lied  as  its  purity,  to  the  wonder  and  in- 
ffruCtion  of  fucceeding  generations  ;  and, 
fhouid  the  mild  philofophy  of  its  maxims 
be  ingrafted  into  the  policy  of  nations,  at 
no  diflant  period  will  the  departed  hero, 
who  now  lives  only  in  the  fpotlefs  fplendor 
of  his  own  great  actions,  exift  in  the  hap- 
pinefs  and  dignity  of  mankind. 

The  fighs  of  cotemporary  gratitude 
have  attended  the  Sublime  Sri  lit  to  its 
paternal  abode  ;  and  the  prayers  of  ame¬ 
liorated  poflerity  will  afeend  in  glowing  re¬ 
membrance  of  their  illuftrious  benefactor  ! 
The  laurels,  that  now  droop,  as  they  fliad- 
ow  his  tomb  with  monumental  glory,  will 
be  cultivated  by  the  tears  of  ages  ;  and, 
embalmed  in  the  heart  of  an  admiring 

world,  the  temple,  ereCted  to  his  memory, 
will  be  more  glorious  than  th t  pyramids,  and 
as  eternal  as  his  own  imperifhable  virtues ! 


121 


WASHINGTON. 


EULOGY, ; 

ON  GEORGE  WASHINGTON ,  DE¬ 
LIVERED  AT  THE  REQUEST 
OF  THE  INHABITANTS 
OF  BOSTON,  JANUA¬ 
RY  9th,  1800. 


BY  GEORGE  R.  MINOR ,  A.  M.  A.  A.  3* 


OlJR  duty,  my  Fellow-Townf- 
men,  on  this  diftrefling  occafion,  is  dictat¬ 
ed  by  the  dignity  and  refplendent  virtue  of 
the  beloved  Man  whofe  death  we  deplore. 
We  aiTeinble  to  pay  a  debt  to  departed 
merit,  a  debt  which  we  can  only  pay  by 
the  fincerity  of  our  grief,  and  the  refpedt- 
ful  effufions  of  gratitude ;  for  the  highefi 
eulogy  left  us  to  beflow  upon  our  lament¬ 
ed  WASHINGTON,  is theftria narratiop 
of  the  truth  ;  and  the  loftiefl  chara&er 


which  we  can  aflhrn  to  him,  is  the 


verv 


122 


MEMORY  of 


difplay  of  himfelf.  When  ambition  allies 
itfelf  to  guilt,  when  power  tramples  upon 
sight,  when  vi&ory  triumphs  in  blood, 
when  piety  fits  clouded  in  fup'erftition, 
when  humility  is  affedled  by  cunning, 
when  patriotifm  is  founded  on  felfifhnefs ; 
then  let  adulation  fpread  her  proflituted 
mantle,  to  fcreen  the  difgraces  of  her  pat¬ 
rons,  and  amufe  with  the  falfehoods  of  her 
imagination.  But  to  our  political  Father, 
the  faithful  page  of  hiftorv  is  panegyric, 
and  the  happinefs  of  his  country  is  the 
monument  of  his  fame. 

Come,  then.  Warriors  !  Statefmen ! 
Philofophers  !  Citizens  !  affemble  round 
the  tomb  of  this  favorite  fon  of  virtue  ; 
with  ail  the  luxury  of  forrow  recoiled  the 
important  events  of  his  life,  and  partake  of 
the  created:  leuaev  which  a  mortal  could 

O  O  j 

bequeath  you,  in  the  contemplation  of  his 
example.  Whilft  we  folemnize  this  act, 
his  difembodied  fpirit,  if  it  be  permitted 
to  retrace  the  feenes  of  its  terreftrial  exig¬ 
ence,  will  fmiie  with  approbation  cn  the 
inltrudive  rite. 


WASHINGTON. 


Your  anniverfaries  have  long  honor¬ 
ed  the  eleventh  of  February, *  one  thoufand 
feven  hundred  and  thirty-two,  as  the  birth¬ 
day  of  our  illuftrious  Chief,  and  the  parifh 
of  his  own  name  in  Weft  morel  and  county, 
in  Virginia,  beads  itfeif  the  place  of  his 
nativity.  But  to  fouls  like  his,  local  re- 
flridiions  are  not  attached.  Where  Lib¬ 
erty  was,  there  would  be  his  country  :  - 
Happy  for  us,  the  Genius  of  Liberty,  ref- 
ponfive  to  his  affedions,  refoived  that 
where  WASHINGTON  was,  there  alio 
fhould  be  her  abode. 

Educated  by  private  indrudion,  his 
virtue  grew  with  his  knowledge,  and  the 
lifeful  branches  of  literature  occupied  the 
whole  powers  of  his  mind.  Exemplary 
for  folidity  of  thought,  and  chaflity  of 
morals,  he  was  honored  by  the  government 
of  Virginia,  with  an  important  million,  at 
an  age  when  the  levities  of  the  human 
character  feldom  yield  to  the  earlieft  opera¬ 
tion  of  reafon. 

At  the  opening  of  the  great  war  of 
encroachments  upon  our  wedern  frontiers, 
he  was  the  bearer  of  the  remonftrance  to 
*  Old  Style. 


124 


MEMORY  69 


the  French.  Such  was  the  addrefs,  fidelity 
and  perfeverance  with  which  he  executed 
this  important  trull,  that  he  was  honored 
at  twenty-two  years  of  age  with  the  com¬ 
mand  of  a  regiment  railed  by  his  province. 
His  military  talents  were  foon  called  to  the 
tell.  At  RedRone,  Victory  perched  upon 
his  ftandard  ;  but,  with  that  volatility  by 
which  file  tries  the  powers  of  her  favorite 
heroes,  file  in  a  few  months  afterwards  left 
him,  by  his  own  -  exertions,  to  fave  the 
honors  of  war  for  his  little  band,  in  an  une¬ 
qual,  but  well  fupported  battle.  In  Brad- 
dock's  flaughtcred  army,  he  was  a  witnefs 
to  fcenes  of  horror,  which  his  caution,  had 
it  been  adopted,  would  have  prevented, 
and  which  his  Ready  courage  afiifted  much 
to  retrieve.  During  the  remainder  of  this 
war,  he  was  employed  in  fortifying  his  na¬ 
tive  province,  in  arranging  and  perfecting 
its  militia,  and  in  checking  the  incurfions 
of  the  enemy,  until  the  crifis  of  the  conteR 
had  palled  in  this  country,  when  he  resign¬ 
ed  his  command. 

Retirement  to  him  was  only  a  dif¬ 
ferent  mode  of  adtion,  and  his  repofe  par¬ 
took  not  of  indolence.  AmidR  the  hon- 


WASHINGTON. 


*25 


orable  purfaits  of  agriculture,  he  difeharg- 
ed  various  civil  offices,  until  we  find  him 
rifmg  amongd  the  patriots  of  our  country, 
as  a  delegate  from  Virginia,  in  the  fir  it 
American  Congrefs. 

We  ffiall  ever  remember  the  fifteenth 
day  of  June,  one  thoufand  feven  hundred 
and  feventy-five,  when  Providence  directed 
to  his  appointment  as  the  Commander  in 
Chief  of  our  revolutionary  army.  In  this 
neighborhood  he  hr  ft  drew  his  fword. 
Many  of  you,  my  Fellow-Townfmen,  were 
then  languifhing  under  the  fetters  of  tyran¬ 
ny,  or  were  imprifoned  within  the  joylefs 
confines  of  your  own  habitations.  Your 
hope  was  fixed  on  him.  His  command, 
independent  of  the  refources  of  his  own 
mind,  afforded  no  ground  for  the  fupport 
of  your  feelings,  fie  had  an  army  brave 
indeed,  but  with  little  difcipline  ;  naked  at 
the  approach  of  winter ;  and  almoft  fubjedl 
to  diffolution  from  temporary  enlifhnents  5 
a  pay-mafler  without  money  ;  a  commiffary 
ftrugeling  on  the  utmofl  (fretch  of  credit. 
A  veteran  army  lay  under  his  eye  ftrongly 
fortified,  regularly  paid,  warmly  clothed. 

La 


126 


MEMORY  os 


and  boafting  its  faperiority  to  militia.  Yet 
did  his  victorious  fword  relieve  you,  and 
fave  your  city.  Juftly  have  you  afcribed 
<c  your  reinflatement  to  his  wife  arrange¬ 
ments,  which  compelled  your  invaders  to 
adopt  a  lefs  deflruftive  policy  than  that 
which  on  other  occafions  they  fo  wantonly 
praCtifed.”  Could  our  gratitude  forget  it, 
the  heights  around  us  bear  the  triumphant 
evidence  of  his  conqueft. 

To  trace  this  proteCtor  of  our  liberties 
through  his  unrivalled  career,  from  his 
gloomy  retreat  through  the  Jerfies  to  his 
feveral  victories  and  his  fplendid  triumph 
at  York-Town,  would  be  to  narrate  the 
varying  hiftory  of  our  Revolution.  To 
him,  public  labor  was  amufement,  father¬ 
ing  in  the  caufe  of  freedom  was  a  luxury, 
and  every  hour  as  it  flew  carried  an  offering 
to  his  country. 

J 

As  obedience  to  the  voice  of  his  op- 
preffed  fellow-citizens  drew  his  fword  on 
ihe  approach  of  war,  fo  at  the  'declaration 
of  peace,  by  the  fame  refpeCled  voice  he 
reftored  it  to  its  fcabbard.  He  left  them 
his  bldflng  and  their  liberties.  O  Human 


WASHING  TON. 


\2J 


Nature*  how  haft  thou  been  traduced ! 
With  thee,  has  it  been  faid,  is  effentially 
connected  that  lull  of  power  which  is  infa  li¬ 
able  ;  which  reftores  not  voluntarily  what 
has  been  committed  to  its  charge  ;  which 
devours  all  rights,  and  refoives  all  laws 
into  its  own  authority ;  which  labors  not 
for  others,  but  feizes  the  fruits  of  their 
labors  for  itfelf ;  which  breaks  down  all 
barriers  of  religion,  fociety  and  nature  that 
obftruct  its  courfe  ;  now  art  thou  vindicat¬ 
ed  !  Here  we  behold  thee  allied  to  virtue, 
worn  in  the  fervice  of  mankind,  fuperioi*  to 
the  meannefs  of  compenfation,  humbly 
hoping  for  the  thanks  of  thy  country  alone, 
faithfully  furrendering  the  fvvord,  with 
which  thou  wall  entrufted,  and  yielding  up 
power  with  a  promptnefs  and  facility  equal¬ 
led  only  by  the  diffidence  and  reluctance 
with  which  thou  received  ft  it. 

Now  will  the  future  inquirer  fay,  this 
Hero  has  finilhed  the  talk  afiigned  him,  the 
meafure  of  his  glory  is  full.  A  world  is 
admitted  to  freedom— a  Nation  is  born. 
Favored  beyond  the  leader  of  Ifrael,  not 
only  with  the  prolpect,  but  with  the  fruition 
of  the  promifed  bluffing,  he  has  retired 


128 


MEMORY  of 

/ 

like  that  prince  of  meeknefs,  to  the  Mount a 
whence  he  is  to  afcend,  unfeen  by  a  weep¬ 
ing  people,  to  the  reward  of  all  his  labor?. 
No,  he  is  to  live  another  life  upon  this 
globe  ;  he  is  to  reap  a  double  harveft  in  the 
field  of  perennial  honor.  The  people 
whom  he  has  faved  from  external  tyranny, 
fmTer  from  the  agitations  of  their  own  un¬ 
fettled  powers.  1  he  tree  of  Liberty  which 
he  has  planted,  and  fo  carefully  guarded 
from  the  (forms,  now  flourifhes  beyond  its 
flrength  ;  its  lofty  excrefcences  threaten  to 
tear  its  lefs  extended  roots  from  the  earth, 
and  to  proflrate  it  fruitlefs  on  the  plain. 
But,  he  comes  !  In  Convention  he  prefides 
over  councils,  as  in  war  he  had  led  the 
battle.  The  Conflitution,  like  the  rain¬ 
bow  after  the  flood,  appears  to  us,  now 
juft  emerging  from  an  overwhelming  com¬ 
motion  ;  and  we  know  the  truth  of  the 
pledge  from  the  fan  (ft  ion  of  his  name. 

The  produ&ion  was  worthy  of  its 
authors,  and  of  the  magnanimous  people 
whom  it  was  intended  to  eftablifh.  You 
adopt  it,  you  cherifhit,  and  you  refolve  to 
tranfuiit  it,  with  the  name  of  WASHING- 


1 23 


WASHINGTON, ; 

TON,  to  the  lateft  generation,  who  (hall 
prove  their  juft  claim  to  fuch  an  illuftrious 
defcent. 

Who  was  To  worthy,  as  our  greaS 
Legiilator,  to  diredl  the  operations  of  a 
Government  which  his  councils  and  his 
fword  had  labored  to  eredt  ?  By  a  unani¬ 
mous  fufFra'ge  he  was  invited  to  the  exalt¬ 
ed  ftation  of  Prefident  of  the  United  States* 
The  call  was  too  facred  to  admit  of  doubt : 
It  fuperceded  the  happinefs  of  retirement, 
the  demands  of  private  intereft,  the  fweet 
attractions  of  domeftic  fociety,  and  the 
hazard  (forgive  it  WASHINGTON  !  for 
thou  waft  mortal)  the  hazard  of  public  re¬ 
putation.  Behold  the  man  on  this  occa- 
fion  to  mighty  in  the  eye  of  all  the  world, 
fo  humble  in  his  own  !  He  accepts  the 
high  appointment  with  fuch  diftruft  of  his 
natural  endowments,  with  fuch  diffidence 
in  his  capacity,  as  can  be  relieved  only  by 
his  reliance  on  that  Almighty  Being, 
cc  who  rules  over  the  Univerfe,  who  pre° 
fides  in  the  councils  of  nations,  and  whofe 
providential  aids  can  fupply  every  human 
defect.” 


MEMORY*  09 


130 

One  of  the  earlier!:  acts  of  his  admin- 
iftration  was  that  circular  vifit  to  transfufe 
his  love,  and  receive  the  grateful  benedic¬ 
tions  of  his  loving  countrymen,  in  which 
you,  my  Fellow  Townfmen,  partook  fo 
liberal  a  fliare.  What  fenfations  ruffied 
upon  your  minds,  when  you  compared  tha 
dreadful  afpect  of  your  befieged  city,  with 
its  now  finding  condition.  The  well-cul¬ 
tivated  fields  were  fcreening  from  view  the 
lam  terrific  ramparts  of  the  enemy,  and  the 
groans  of  the  diftreffed  had  yielded  to  the 
bufy  noife  of  commerce  and  pleafure.  Mow 
grateful  now  is  the  recollection,  that  with 
tears  of  joy  you  crowded  to  meet  him  in 
your  flreets,  difplaying  the  very  infignia 
which  you  this  day  bear  in  mournful  pro- 
ceffion  ;  and  your  children,  bowing  their 
heads  with  eager  folicitude  to  attract  his 
fatherly  eye,  received  his  pious  bleffing. 

Did  the  occafion  admit  of  it,  how 
pleafing  would  be  the  review  of  his  ad¬ 
ministration,  as  our  Supreme  Executive 
Magifirate  !  His  talents  and  his  virtues  in- 
creafed  with  his  cares.  Ilis  foul  feemed 
not  to  bear  the  limits  of  office,  a  moment 
after  the  obligations  of  duty  and  patriotifna 


WASHING  TO  N. 


*3* 

withdrew  their  reftraints  from  his  univer- 
fal  love.  When  the  mifguided  favages  of 
the  wildernefs,  after  feeling  his  chaftife- 
ment,had  fued  for  peace,  he  feemed  to  labor 
for  their  happinefs  as  the  common  Repre- 
fentative  of  mankind.  Infurre&ion  was  fo 
flruck  at  his  countenance,  that  it  fled  from 
the  fliock  of  his  arms.  Intrigue  attempt¬ 
ed  to  entangle  him  in  her  poifonous  web, 
but  he  buril  it  with  gigantic  ftrength,  and 
crufhed  her  labors.  Anarchy  looked  out 
from  her  cavern,  and  was  daPned  into  ob¬ 
livion  as  wre  truft,  forever.  The  nations 
of  Europe  faw  the  wifdom  of  our  laws,  the 
vigor  of  our  meafures,  the  juftice  of  our 
policy,  the  firmnefs  of  our  government, 
and  acquiefced  in  the  neutrality  of  our  Ra¬ 
tion. 


The  dangers  of  the  Commonwealth 
having  fubfided  at  the  clofe  of  his  fee  end 
adminiftration,  he  felt  himfelf  juftified,  af¬ 
ter  dedicating  forty-live  years  of  his  valua¬ 
ble  life  to  her  fervice,  in  withdrawing  to 
receive  with  refignation  the  great  change 
of  nature,  which  his  age  and  his  toils  dem- 
onflrated  to  be  near.  When  he  declined 
your  future  fuffrages,  he  left  you  a  legacy. 


*3a 


ME  MORI ~  op 


What !  like  Cefar’s  to  the  Romans,  money 
for  your  fports  ?  Like  Attalus’s,  a  kingdom 
for  your  tyranny  ?  No  he  left  you  not 
fuch  baubles,  nor  for  fuch  purpofes.  He 
left  you  the  records  of  wifdom  for  your 
government  ;  a  mirror  for  the  faithful  re- 
prefentation  to  your  own  view,  of  your- 
felves,  your  weakndfes,  your  advantages, 
your  dangers  :  a  magnet  which  points  to 
the  fecret  mines  and  windings  of  party 
fpirit,  faction,  Foreign  influence  :  a  pillar 
to  the  unity  of  your  Republic  :  a  band  to 
inclofe,  conciliate,  and  flrengthen  the 
whole  of  your  wonderful  and  almofl  bound- 
lefs  communities.  Read,  preferve  the  fa- 
cred  depofit ;  and  led  poflerity  ffiould  for¬ 
get  the  truth  of  its  iftaxiins,  engrave  them 
on  his  tomb,  that  they  may  tead  them 
when  they  weep  before  it. 

In  his  fecond  refignation  of  power 
and  the  charms  of  office,  the  American 
Leader  appears  fuperior  to  ancient  or  mod¬ 
ern  examples.  Yet  another  grade  was 
affigned  to  his  virtue.  Our  national  rights, 
fo  well  defended  at  home,  were  invaded  on 
the  ocean.  The  alarm  reaches  his  retreat  ; 
the  ®  honor  of  our  Republic  warms  his. 


WASHINGTON. 


*3  3 


heart  ;  and  he  again  accepts  the  fword  for 
its  defence  from  the  hand  of  another, 
placed  by  the  voice  of  the  people  in  that 
Supreme  Magiftracy,  which  he  alone  had 
heretofore  filled.  With  a  lefs  dignified 
foul,  this  official  inferiority  might  have 
availed  to  injure  his  country  ;  but  he  who 
could  defcend  from  the  head  of  a  nation,  to 
difcharge  the  minuted  duties  of  a  private 
citizen,  was  too  great  to  allow  the  influence 
of  etiquette  to  endanger  the  fafety  of  the 
people.  His  condefcenfion  raifes  him  above 
himfelf  ;  his  fpirit  fires  all  ranks  of  men  ; 
he  is  overwhelmed  with  the  gratitude  and 
applaufe  of  an  enraptured  nation. 

Whilst  we  confide  in  his  arm,  and 
are  marfhalling  our  warriors  to  march  un¬ 
der  his  banners,  the  GOD  of  armies,  whofe  * 
counfels  are  beyond  the  fcrutiny  of  man, 
prepares  for  us  the  ted  of  our  fubmiffion  to 
his  chaftifing  rod.  It  is  decreed  that  our 
WASHINGTON  fhall  die,  but  that  his 
death  fhall  be  worthy  of  his  life.  He  is  to 
die  by  the  hand  of  Virtue.  The  rapid  dif- 
eafe  which  is  feledled  as  the  inflrument  of 
his  diffolution,  indantaneoufly  fazes  him. 


*34 


MEMORT  6* 


His  humanity  delays  the  immediate  aid  to 
which  alone  it  may  yield.  Inconfolablef 
Domeflics!  what  dorms  would  you  not 
have  braved,  what  hazards  would  you  not 
have  encountered,  to  fave  that  life  which 
was  facridced  to  your  comfort  and  fafety  ! 
At  length  Science  flies  to  fave  him.  Alas  ! 
what  avails  its  (kill  againd  the  mandate  of 
He  aven  ?  It  comes  too  late  ! — It  is  finiflied* 

Wonderful  event  !  Greatnefs  de¬ 
parts  in  glory,  and  envy  is  filent !  All  ac¬ 
knowledge  him  to  be  the  fird  of  citizens, 
and  none  feel  hurt  by  his  fuperiority.  So 
impartial  was  he,  that  none  impeach  his  juf- 
tice  ;  fo  moderate,  none  complain  of  his 
power;  fo  magnanimous, his  conquered  ene¬ 
mies  applaud  his  humanity  ;  fo  philanthro¬ 
pic,  that  neither  colour, nor  climate,  nor  re¬ 
ligion,  nor  politics  could  exclude  the  unfor¬ 
tunate  from  his  fuccor.  He  had  the  habit 
of  combining  fentiment  with  a&ionin  fuch 
method  and  force,  that  he  flied  his  benevo¬ 
lence  on  communities  of  men  with  the  fame 
cafe  as  the  fudden  impulfe  of  momentary 
fenfibility  bedows  it  upon  individuals.  Un¬ 
exampled  virtue  !  allotted  to  its  merited 
reward.  Many  founders  of  nations  have 


WASHINGTON.  135 

V 

been  left  to  obtain  from  poflerity  that  re¬ 
putation  which  prejudice  or  bigotry  has  de¬ 
nied  at  their  deaths.  The  tomb  has  been 
neceffary  to  bury  anger,  petty  interefls  and 
emulation,  which  barred  an  equitable  judg¬ 
ment.  But  in  regard  to  this  Sage,  the 
gratitude  of  his  country  has  been  co-exift- 
ent  with  his  exertions.  Time  has  not  been 
required  to  remove  him  from  our  view,  in 
order  to  magnify  his  exploits  through  the 
medium  of  fame  ;  nor  was  it  requifite  that 
we  fhculd  be  deprived  of  the  good  he  had 
done  us,  to  entertain  a  juft  fenfe  of  its  im¬ 
portance.  Medals  and  flatues  have  been 
decreed  him  when  living,  and  your  tears 
announce  his  greater  triumph  in  your 
hearts,  when  dead.  Difmterefted  love ! 
What  motives  have  you,  freemen,  for  thus 
offering  up  your  applaufe  ?  He  has  now  no 
fhield  to  defend  you  from  the  invafions  of 
your  enemies ;  his  head  lies  cold  in  the 
grave,  and  no  counfel  can  arife  from  his 
lips.  Ills  eyes  were  dofed  by  his  own  un- 
fhaken  hand,  and  no  fmile  can  now  beam 
from  his  countenance  to  animate  your 
troops.  Grateful  Republicans!  indeed  you 
weep  not  from  felfifhnefs.  A  fill  fled  with 

**  f- 


1 36 


MEMORY  on 


the  thought  of  the  bleffings  which  he  has 
Ihowered  upon  yourfelves  and  your  chil¬ 
dren,  you  would  call  him,  could  your  voice 
be  heard,  from  the  clofed  manfions  of  the 
dead,  again  to  receive  the  tribute  of  your 
aftedion.  You  weep  for  her,  whofe  ten¬ 
der  participation  in  the  anxieties  of  a  huf- 
band  relieved  his  cares,  and  protraded  the 
invaluable  life  which  love  itfelf  could  no  lon¬ 
ger  detain.  Difconfolate  woman  !  mourn 
not  \  for  the  faithful  is  gene  to  receive  the 
reward  of  his  uprightnefs.  The  whole  de- 
fire  of  his  heart,  the  whole  purfuit  of  his 
labors  has  been  the  good  of  his  fellow- 
men.  Con trafl:  him  with  thofe  who  have 
been  raifed  by  the  empty,  the  criminal  ad¬ 
miration  of  mankind,  to  the  highefl  ranks 
in  the  Pantheon  of  fame.  See  one  inftead 
of  liberating  and  protecting,  employed  in 
conquering  and  enflaving  a  world,  and 
weeping  that  his  guilty  talk  could  be  con¬ 
tinued  no  longer.  Another  retiring  from 
the  purple,  not  with  the  united  bleffings  of 
all  religious  feds,  but  the  bigoted  perfecu- 
tor  of  the  only  rational  and  divine  religion  : 
See  the  mailer  of  fo  many  crowns,  after 
yielding  them  up  for  a  convent,  inftead  of 


WASHINGTON. 


*37 


interefl-ing  himfelf  in  the  welfare  of  man¬ 
kind  to  the  hour  of  his  departure,  relapfmg 
into  the  abfurdities  of  monkifh  fuperfrition: 
and  another,  whofe  allies  are  fcarcely  cold, 
flaughtering  the  armies  of  half  the  nations 
of  Europe,  to  extend  the  limits  of  an  Elec¬ 
torate,  with  as  much  zeal  as  our  departed 
Hero  labored  to  extend  the  limits  of  free¬ 
dom,  civilization  and  morals.  When  fo 
much  worth  dtps  off  from  the  ftage  of  life, 
the  weaknefs  cf  our  nature  is  the  only  apol¬ 
ogy  for  our  tears.  Such  an  exit  is  not 
death,  it  is  the  triumph  of  the  juft. 


<3 

w 


Sons  of  Freedom  !  as  you  regard  th 
memory  of  your  afcended  Chief,  attend  to 
the  injunctions  of  his  will.  Remember 
that  it  was  not  for  you  alone  he  labored. 
It  was  for  your  pofterity  alfo  ;  it  was  for 
the  human  race.  For  you  and  for  then! 
he  was  drft  in  building  the  nohleft  political 
•fyftem  that  adorns  the  world.  It  is  an  ex- 
periment  to  afcertain  the  nature  of  man  * 
whether  he  be  capable  of  freedom,or  wheth¬ 
er  he  mud  be  led  by  the  reins  of  tyranny ; 
whether  he  be  endowed  with  that  modera¬ 


tion  and  underilandmg  which  check 

M  2 


q  trig* 


MEMORT  op 


138 

extreme  indulgence  of  his  will ;  and  by  al¬ 
lowing  to  others  the  fame  rational  enjoy¬ 
ment  with  himfelf,  forms  the  liberty  of  the 
whole  upon  the  p'artial  rePtraint  of  each  in¬ 
dividual  >  or  whether  he  mull:  go  on  at¬ 
tempting  to  follow  the  dictates  of  felfifh- 
nefs,  and  find  his  only  reftraint  in  a  power 
which  will  efiablilh  itfelf  independent  of 
his  confent,  and  make  him  its  Have.  Who 
of  us  can  be  fuppofed  to  be  fo  loft  to  him¬ 
felf,  fo  forgetful  of  his  children,  and  fo 
traitorous  to  the  world,  as  to  contemplate 
the  overthrow  of  this  magnificent  temple 
of  wifdom  ?  No,  iny  Fellow-Townfmen, 
whatever  zeal  may  fuddenly  fuggeft,  or 
apprehenfions  tempt  us  to  fufped,  there? 
lives  not  a  man  among  us,  fo  depraved,  fo 
curfed  by  Heaven.  Shall  it  be  faid,  that 
the  works  of  his  hands  whom  we  this  day 
almoft  adore  ;  that  the  hope  w  hich  he  held 
cut  to  the  nations  of  the  earth,  fhall  be 
fruftrated  by  our  divifions  ?  To  the  honor 
of  our  country,  not  a  man  but  anfwers. 
No  :  -All,  when  rightly  informed,  wave 
their  particular  prejudices  in  fupport  of  the 
great  pillar  of  our  national  union.  It  is 
cur  pride  3  it  was  creeled  by  our  fathers  3 


WASHINGTON. , 


*39 


It  Is  the  fiandard  of  our  defence.  Lei  us 
then,  with  a  view  of  forever  maintaining  i t, 
banifh  all  animofity,  melt  down  all  parties, 
wipe  away  all  diftin&ions.  Let  us  no  Ion** 
ger  designate  men  who  have  differed  in 
fentiment,  by  odious  epithets  mutually  re- 
fle&ed  and  mutually  difavowed  :  But  if  a 
common  name  be  wanted,  let  it  be  formed 
from  his, whom  we  now  feek  to  honor,  and 
let  it  be  ufed  to  denote  good  will  to  one 
another,  refpeci  to  our  Confiitution,  forti¬ 
tude  to  our  enemies,  love  to  our  country* 
devotion  to  our  Goo. 


In  the  condolence  of  this  day,  we  can- 
mot  fail  to  notice  the  honor  which  we  feel 
by  the  prefence  of  the  Fathers  of  the  State. 
It  was  not  unbecoming  the  dignity  of  office, 
on  fuch  an  occafion,  to  fufpend  its  occupa¬ 
tions  and  join  the  general  forrow.  To  de¬ 
vote  this  portion  of  time  to  his  memory 
who  devoted  a  long  life  to  cur  happinefs, 
is  rational  and  juft.  Within  the  prefent 
political  year,  you,  Honorable  Magiftrates 
and  Legiflators,  in  this1  place  folemnized 
the  obfequies  of  the  late  excellent  Gover¬ 
nor  of  our  Commonwealth,  the  much  ref- 
pe&ed  SUMNER.  Thus  pafs  away  the 


MEMORY  or 


34s 

wife,  the  virtuous  and  the  faithful ;  by  an 
irrevocable  decree,  lefs  unwelcome  to  them, 
as  it  refpe&s  themfelves,  than  grievous  to 
us.  Their  lives  are  long  enough  for  their 
own  glory,  but,  alas !  (till  too  neceifary  to 
their  country’s  welfare.  The  experience 
of  circumffances,  which  are  neceffary  to 
form  that  effulgence  of  character,  by  which 
they  enlighten,  civilize  and  direct  fociety, 
fall  to  the  lot  of  few.  When  fuch  lamps 
are  extinguifhed,  we  are  happy  if  our  dark- 
nefs  be  tranfient.  But  in  your  wifdom  the 
people  of  our  Commonwealth  fafely  con¬ 
fide  ;  nor  as  members  of  our  united  coun¬ 
try,  do  they  mourn  like  thofe  who  are 
without  hope  ;  for  although  in  the  prefent 
gloom  of  our  political  hemifphere,  their 
late  ruling  planet  has  travelled  to  the  morn¬ 
ing  of  another  clime,  yet  its  kindred  lumi- 
lrary  rifes  on  the  horizon,  brilliant,  heady, 
and  propitious  to  direct  their  courfe.  They 
lament  that  their  beloved  WASHINGTON 
fleeps  in  death  ;  their  confolation  is.  that 
his  faithful  Brother,  the  vigilant  ADAMS, 
furvives* 

vA  •  •  :  -  -  '  *‘>dj 

\ 


WASHINGTON. 


147 


1BSSL  i&.  g-J  'yjr';xr-rrr^z-. 


MASONIC  EULOGV , 


ON  THE  LIFE  OF  GEORGE  JVASMNGTOX> 
PRONOUNCED  BEFORE  THE  BRETH¬ 
REN  OF  ST.  JOHN’S  LODGE  IN 
BOSTON,  4th.  FEBRUARY, 

5S00, 


BY  BROTHER  GEORGE  BLAKE . 


LaBOR,  be  at  reft  !  Mirth  hi 
not  thy  voice  be  heard  !  Joy,  our  once 
fweet  vifitant,  we  have  now  no  place  for 
thee  here!  our  Lodge  has  become  the 
abode  of  melancholy  and  forrow  : — Griefs 
oh ,  Grief!  moil  fincerely  do  we  welcome 
thee  to  the  hall  of  this  fraternity  ;  thou 
dull  diimal  meffenger  of  woe,  it  is  thy  pri¬ 
vilege  to  rule  our  Lodge  this  night ;  from 
heaven’s  high  arch,  art  thou  cotnmiffioned, 
by  the  weeping  genius  of  Ivlafonry ,  to  take 
the  charge  of  this  her  tcrreftrial  habitation, 


MEMORT  op 


342 

— We  acknowledge  thy  credentials — they 
are  attelled  by  the  fignature  of  Death- — we 
bow  to  thy  authority — we  yield  to  thy 
commands. —Come,  then.  Grief !  dark 
and  gloomy  Spirit ;  we  are  now  thy  Broth¬ 
ers.  At  this  moment  we  are  ready  to  in¬ 
duct  thee  to  office — to  inveit  thee  with  the 
black  fymbols  of  ftately  promotion.  In  the 
Eafl,  where  gay  light  once  had  dominion^ 
there  (halt  thou  fit  enthroned  on  clouds 
and  darknefs  In  the  Weft  thy  faithful 
Wardens  are  Sadnefs  and  Sympathy  ;  and 
as  the  Sun  fitteth  in  the  Weft ,  to  clofe  the 
day,  fo  do  they  fit  there  to  draw  thy  clou¬ 
dy  mantle  over  this  Lodge*  Dreffied  in 
thy  moll  difmal  attire,  we  hail  thee,  Grief 
as  the  mafter  of  this  meeting  ; — for  thy 
Truncheon ,  we  give  thee  the  Grave-man’s 
Mattock  .—on  thy  bofom  will  we  fallen  a 
beamlefs  Jewel ,  that  is  covered  by  the  fa¬ 
ble  veftment  of  night ;  for  thy  Girdle ,  thou 
Ill  alt  wear  a  wandering  moon  beam,  whofe 
glimmering  light  ffiall  ferve  to  make  more 
vifible  the  darknefs  of  thy  form.  The 
Tomb-Sione  is  thy  Truffell  Board ,  and  thy 
Tow  Line  ffiall  be  twilled  from  the  fined 
chords  of  Mafotis  hearts,— Here  then5 


WASHINGTON. 


*43 

Grief,  we  await  thy  commands  ;  our  hearts , 
and  not  our  hands,  will  perform  the  joylefs 
labors  of  the  night.  Our  refrefhment 
{ball  be  the  cup  of  bitternefs,  and  when  we 
have  drunken  it  to  the  dregs,  our  bofoms, 
with  three  times  three  thoufand  pulfations, 
(ball  give  the  fignal  of  our  fmcerity  and 
unifon. 

But  whence  my  Brothers  and  where¬ 
fore  is  all  this  gloom  and  flillnefs  r  Why 
Is  the  noife  of  the  bufy  hammer  fufpended, 
and  our  ears  greeted  only  by  the  flow  beat¬ 
ings  of  kindred  bofoms.  Why  has  cur 
noon  tide  Sun  retired  fo  foon  to  the  dark 
chambers  of  the  Weft  I  Our  Lodge,  which 
has  fo  often  refounded  with  the  voice  of 
induflry  and  mirth,  is  now  filent  as  the 
manfion  of  death  ;  thofe  dazzling  lumina¬ 
ries,  which  have  been  wont  to  enlighten 
our  labors,  why  are  they  extinguifhed  ; 
why  do  they  now  refufe  their  accuftomed 
radiance  ?  The  Compafs ,  the  Square ,  the 
Level,  the  Plumb,  and  all  thofe  fparkling 
jewels,  once  the  pride  and  the  ornament 
of  Mafons,  are  now  concealed  by  a  veil  of 
blacknefs  ;  the  cheerful  fong,  which  has 
fo  often  welcomed  the  eve  of  labor,  has 


*44 


MEMORT  of 


ceafed  to  undulate — I  hear  nothing  but  the 
doleful  melody  of  fighs  and  groans — where 
I  have  once  feen  the  fprightly  features  of 
eafe  and  contentment— where  I  have  often 
beheld  the  expanded  countenance  of  glad- 
nefs  and  hilarity— through  this  dubious 
quivering  light,  I  can  now  difeern  naught 
but  the  pale  fickly  vifage  of  melancholy 
and  forrow.  Need  1  alk,  my  Brothers, 
whence  this  awful  change  ?  Of  our  refpedt- 
cd  M after  flia.ll  I  inquire,  why  hands  a  tear 
trembling  in  his  eye,  or  of  you,  my  friends, 
why  every  breath  feerns  to  travel  from  the 
lungs  in  pain  ;  or  why  this  difmal  night 
fhade  is  more  fuited  to  the  prefent  “  habit 
of  your  fouls  f  than  the  jocund  afpecl  of 
day  ? — No  !  my  own  heart,  my  Brothers, 
refolves  the  myftery — - - WASHING¬ 

TON  !  OH  WASHINGTON  !  OUR 
MASTER,  OUR  BROTHER,  OUR 
FATHER,  OUR  FRIEND,  WASH¬ 
INGTON  IS  NO  MORE! - lie,  who 

was  greater  than  Hiram ,  better  and  more 
beloved  than  Solomon  ;  he,  whofe  virtues 
have  been  fo  long  the  example,  the  boafl 
of  our  fraternity  ;  whofe  countenance  dif- 
fufed  fplendor  and  brightnefs  through  the 


WASHINGTON. 


*45 


wide  arch  of  Mafonry ,  has  gone  down  in 
the  Weft,  has  defcended  to  the  filent  man- 
fions  of  the  dead.  That  perfect  Afhlcr 
which  flood  at  the  Ead  corner  of  our 
Temple  ;  that  Stone  which  the  Builders  fe- 
ledted,  which  was  wrought  and  polifhed 
by  the  hand  of  God  himfelf ;  that  on  which 
relied  the  main  pillar  of  our  Fabric,  is  torn 
away  and  removed  by  the  refifllefs  arm  of 
Heath  ;  the  flrength  of  our  building  is  de¬ 
cayed  ;  its  beauty  and  ornament  are  oblit¬ 
erated  forever ;  the  Grand  Architect  in 
heaven  has  recalled  from  his  embafiy,  a 
being,  who  was  fent  to  us,  as  a  light  to 
our  defigns,  a  model  for  our  labors.  Pare 
Spirit  cf  Mafonry  !  thy  lofs  is  Irreparable- 
Well  mayeft  thou  now  make  the  <c  dud 
thy  paper,  and  with  rainy  tears,  write  fur¬ 
row  on  the  bol’om  of  the  earth.” — The 
faired  column  of  thy  earthly  Temple  is  brok¬ 
en  ;  the  column  on  which  the  brightest  fea¬ 
tures  of  thy  chara&er  were  engraven,  is  de- 
molifhed,  and  in  the  quarries  of  heaven 
alone  is  there  a  precious  done  to  fupply 
its  place# 

N 


MEMORT  of 


*4  6 

Tiiink  not,  my  Brothers,  that  T  have 
felt  it  my  duty,  on  the  prefent  occafion,  to 
aflifl  you  in  eftimating  the  magnitude  of 
your  lofs,  by  an  attempt  to  difplay  all  the 
virtues  of  the  wonderful  man,  whofe  death 
we  commemorate.  Forgive  me,  if  I  touch 
lightly  on  a  few  lineaments  of  a  chara&er, 
whofe  aggregate  is  not  only  far  beyond  my 
powers  to  defcribe  ;  but  as  far  beyond  my 
faculties  to  comprehend.  A  few  days  on¬ 
ly  have  elapfed  fince  I  was  Rrft  invited  by 
my  brethren  to  afiift  in  this  folemn  offer¬ 
ing  of  grief.  In  this  bufy,  thoughtlefs,  tu¬ 
multuous  world,  I  leave  you  to  confider, 
what  a  fmall,  very  fmall  portion  of  our  re¬ 
flection  is  fit  to  be  dedicated  to  a  fubject  fo 
interesting,  fo  fublimely  affecting. — For 
myfelf,  I  can  hardly  contemplate  the  death 
of  WASHINGTON  without  a  feeling  of 
piety  and  devotion  ;  I  dared  not  think  of 
the  event,  until  I  had  purified  my  mind 
from  every  fentiment  relating  to  the  ftale 
concerns  of  ordinary  life  ;  and  to  fpeak 
of  him,  in  this  folemn  Lodge,  I  fhould  con¬ 
fider  as  nearly  allied  to  blafphemy,  had  I 
not  fir  ft  cleanfed  my  tongue  from  all  the 
frivolous  language  to  which  it  is  accuf- 
tomed. 


WASHINGTON. 


147 


With  thefe  Impreflions  on  my  mind, 
few  indeed  mud  have  been  the  moments  I 
have  had  to  prepare  for  this  folemnity  ; 
but  I  complain  not  of  their  brevity,  for 
Time  himfelf  could  not  lend  me  hours 
enough  to  complete  the  talk — Had  every 
minute  of  my  leifure  been  protra&ed  to 
months— had  every  month  been  prolonged 
to  years,  dill  fhoutd  1  have  been  but  at  the 
beginning  of  a  duty,  fo  dupendous  as  that 
of  recording  the  virtues  of  our  illuflrious 
deceafed.  Were  the  flight  of  my  fancy 
fwift  as  a  fun-beam  ;  were  the  vifion  of 
my  mind  fnarp  as  lightning,  in  the  6C  col- 
lied  night,5’  yet  would  they  be  flow  in. 
their  progrefs,  dill  mud  they  loiter  in  the 
rear  of  his  glory  and  renown.  What  then, 
my  Brothers,  can  be  expected  of  me,  dull 
and  feeble  as  I  am;  what  can  I  fay  to 
magnify  the  Eulogitun  he  deferved ;  to 
fwell  the  tide  of  grief,  that  is  now  burfting 
from  the  eyes  of  his  faithful,  affectionate, 
and  grateful  countrymen.  Compared  to 
his  virtues,  and  the  world’s  forrow  for  his 
death,  all  the  little  praife  in  my  power  to 
beffow,  is  but  as  the  tranflent  night  fly’s 
twinkle,  to  the  fteady  iuflre  of  the  pole  flar 


148 


MEMORY  of 

—my  voice  as  a  figh  to  the  whirlwind— 
and  our  united  fympathy  but  as  a  fingle 
tear  drop  on  the  billows  of  ocean. 

Were  we  contemplating  the  charac¬ 
ter  of  other  heroes  and  Ratefmen,  whom 
hiftory  hath  celebrated,  well  indeed  might 
it  be  fufpetled  that  hypocrify  had  put  on 
for  a  while  the  vizard  of  grief  ;  that  cold 
fenfelefs  duty  has  been  blowing  its  (tudied 
praifes  through  the  trump  of  hollow  adu¬ 
lation  ;  but  on  a  theme  like  the  prefent, 
language  lofes  the  power  to  exaggerate, 
and  even  diflimulation  itfelf  could  hardly 
conjure  up  a  pretence,  that  would  reach  in 
femblance  to  the  height  oi  reality.  The 
char  after  of  WASHINGTON  flood  Tin¬ 
gle  and  alone.  In  him  all  the  qualities 
which  conRitute  the  excellence  of  man, 
however  contrary  in  nature  or  repugnant 
in  principle,  were  almoft  miraculoufly 
united  and  reconciled  ; — with  the  ardor  of 
his  youth,  was  affociated  the  temperance 
of  age  ;  imagination  was  inftrufled  by 
prudence,  without  being  trammelled  by 
timidity  ;  caution  guided  the  Reps  of  rafh- 
nefs,  but  fear  did  not  retard  the  celerity  of 

n.  ^ 

courage. 


WASHINGTON. 


149 


His  firft  achievement  in  war,  was  but 
the  experiment  of  youth  ;  and  yet  on  the 
field  of  Braddock ,  his  fuccefs  feerned  to 
have  refulted  alone,  from  the  ripened  ex¬ 
perience  of  manhood.  He  was  then  little 
more  than  a  beardlefs  tripling,  the  leader 
of  an  undifciplined  militia,  c:  difdainfully 
thrown  in  the  rear”  of  a  veteran  foldierv  ; 
but  on  that  memorable  day,  when  victory 
had  already  pronounced  a  decifion  on  the 
conflict,  when  death,  furious  and  inclem¬ 
ent,  had  reached  to  the  very  middle  of  his 
ranks,  and  with  hideous  yell,  was  in  fwift 
purfuit  of  a  difordered  and  affrighted  ar¬ 
my,  there  did  we  behold  our  youthful  hero, 
with  calmnefs  and  ferenity  on  his  front, 
collected  in  the  midft  of  carnage,  and  un- 
difmayed  by  the  horrors  that  fur  rounded 
him.  Awed  by  his  prefence,  deifiny  for¬ 
got  its  refolves,  and  even  death  himfelf,  as 
if  outgeneraled  by  his  management,  aban¬ 
doned  in  defpair  his  half  completed  pur- 
pofe  of  defolation. 

But  the  prefages  of  his  youth,  bold 
and  promifing  as  they  were,  have  been 
more  than  confummated.  At  an  early 

Na 


150 


MEMORT  os 


period  of  life,  the  great  properties  of  hb 
mind  were  too  refplendent  to  need  an  in¬ 
terpretation  from  fcrutiny,  and  their  ten¬ 
dency,  too  perfpicucus  to  require  an  affur- 
ance  from  the  tongue  of  prophecy. 

Our  country  was  menaced  by  oppref- 
fion  !  Bellona* s  fcourge  had  already  been 
tinged  with  the  blood  of  our  countrymen ; 
our  fhores  wrere  fhadowed  by  the  floating 
meffengers  of  deflrudlion  ;  and  the  very  air 
we  breathe,  thickened  by  the  fmoak  of  our 
conflagrated  villages  ;  when  the  voice  of 
millions,  almoft  at  the  fame  moment,  wdth 
a  kind  of  inftindlive  confidence,  appealed 
for  protection  to  the  heroifm  of  a  WASH¬ 
INGTON.  At  this  perilous  crifis,  the 
heart  of  every  American,  like  the  tremb¬ 
ling  needle  at  the  pole,  refled  on  him  as 
the  lafl  point  of  its  dependence.  Influenc¬ 
ed  by  no  other  excitement  than  the  pureft 
lov.e  of  his  country,  aided  by  few  other  re- 
four  ces,  than  the  exhaufllefs  arfenal  of  his 
own  great  mind,  at  a  time  when  bravery 
might  have  faltered,  and  defpair  itfelf  been 
difarmed  of  its  refolution,  did  he  become 
the  bold  decided  champion  of  American 
liberty. 


WASHINGTON. 


With  what  unfhaken  firmnefs,  with 
what  unerring  fidelity,  he  executed  the 
fearful  duties  of  his  ftation,  it  is  thy  bufi- 
nefs,  Hi/lory  !  to  pronounce  to  future  gen* 
erations ;  thy  work  is  already  begun,  and 
when  the  ftory  is  complete,  it  will  be  the 
larged,  and  the  mod  indrucHve  volume  in 
thy  Archives.  In  vain  may  thy  Plutarch 
and  Polibius  vaunt  their  Alexanders ,  their 
Hannibals ,  the  Scipios  and  Ceefars ;  all  their 
boaded  virtues  would  but  ferve  as  an  ap¬ 
pendix  to  the  biography  of  our  WASH¬ 
INGTON.  Faithful  Clio ,  thou  who  pre¬ 
fid  ed  in  the  regidry  of  human  tranfa&ions, 
thy  book  and  thy  trumpet,  which  have 
been  wont  to  report  the  deeds  of  heroic 
murderers ,  are  now  required  for  a  new  and 
more  grateful  employment  ;  before  thou 
writed  the  name  of  WASHINGTON, 
well  mayed  thou  tear  from  thy  records,  the 
pages  on  which  are  infcribed  the  inevitable 
follies  and  crimes  of  mankind— well  may¬ 
ed  thou  now  exult,  there  has  once  lived 
a  man,  who  had  power  without  ambition, 
glory  without  arrogance,  fame  without  in¬ 
fatuation  ;  a  man  who  united  the  meek- 
nefs  of  a  chriftian,  with  the  influence  of  a 
defpot  3  a  man  whofe  heart  did  not  fink 


*5* 


MEMORT  of 


by  misfortune,  and  whofe  head  became 
more  fleady  by  elevation ;  a  man  who  faved 
a  country  by  his  valor,  and  could  receive 
its  praifes  without  ailumption. 

It  was,  my  Brothers,  the  fentiment  of 
a  very  profound  writei,  “  that  all  human 
advantages  confer  more  power  of  doing 
evil  than  good.”  To  this  opinion,  found¬ 
ed  on  the  degeneracy  of  our  nature,  com¬ 
mon  experience  had  given  almofl  the  au¬ 
thority  of  maxim  ;  but  the  degrading  prin¬ 
ciple,  like  almofl  every  other,  deduced  from 
the  frailty,  the  imbecility  of  man,  was  pre- 
cifely  reverfed  in  the  character  of  WASH¬ 
INGTON.  All  his  advantages,  all  his 
powers,  extenfive  as  they  were,  and  in  oth¬ 
er  hands,  deftru&ive  as  they  might  have 
been,  by  a  kind  of  fupernatural  agency, 
feeined  to  have  been  dire&ed  to  but  one 
and  the  bell  of  purpofes,  the  welfare  of  his 
country  and  the  glory  of  his  God. 

There  was  a  time,  when,  had  the 
ambition  of  a  Sylla>  been  united  to  the  pow¬ 
er  of  a  WASHINGTON,  this  fair  coun¬ 
try,  which  we  inhabit ;  this  favored  refi- 
dence  of  liberty  and  peace,  might  perhaps 


WASHINGTON. 


*53 


have  been  proflrate  at  the  foot  of  an  impe¬ 
rious  tyrant.  Inftead  of  greeting  our  illus¬ 
trious  Brother  in  the  (treets,  with  love  and 
the  familiarity  of  his  equals,  we  might  have 
commixed  with  an  obfequious  rabble,  and 
followed  in  the  rear  of  a  conqueror  in  tri¬ 
umph  ;  inflead  of  weeping  at  his  grave  in 
all  the  fincerity  of  grief,  we  might  now 
have  been  engaged  in  a  mimic  folemnity, 
a  cold  unfeeling  flavifii  ceremonial.  Was 
there  not  a  time,  my  Brothers,  when  he 
might  perhaps  have  decimated  our  coun¬ 
cils,  like  a  Cromwell ,  garbled  our  parlia¬ 
ment,  and  trampled  with  impunity,  on  the 
freedom  he  was  commiffioned  and  affected 
to  protect  ?  When  with  a  devoted,  unfat- 
isfkd  army  at  command,  he  could  have 
ipoken  to  us  in  the  name  of  liberty,  and 
his  vacant  pretenfions,  been  received  as  the 
only  pledge  of  our  rights  ? 

But  praifes  be  to  heaven,  our  W ASH- 
INGTON  was  incorruptible  by  the  poffef- 
fion  of  glory,  as  he  had  been  magnanimous 
in  purfuit  of  his  Nation’s  Independence 
his  exalted  foul  would  have  difdained  to 
command,  when  duty  and  honor  enjoined 
him  to  obey  )  his  valor  which  had  done 


MEMORY*  op 


15  4 

every  thing  for  others,  had  nothing  to  per¬ 
form  for  the  aggrandizement  of  himfelf, 
America  victorious,  her  freedom  fecured, 
the  commanding  attitude  of  a  General,  the 
renowned  conquering  General,  was  in  an 
infiant  converted  to  the  humble  demeanor 
of  an  obedient,  unafpiring  citizen.  At  the 
altar  of  liberty,  when  he  preferred  the  char¬ 
ter  of  Independence,  he  alfo  laid  down  the 
fword,  by  which  it  had  been  refcued.  By 
this  laft  aft,  the  vaunting  predictions  of 
his  enemies  were,  in  a  moment,  biafled, 
and  the  fondeft  hopes  of  his  countrymen 
confirmed.  He  who  had  conquered  the 
proudefl  nation  of  Europe,  by  a  nobler 
achievement, had  now  “conquered  himfelf,’9 
had  vanquifhed  the  frailties  and  infirmities 
of  nature. 

From  that  period,  nothing  remained 
of  the  foldier,  the  veteran,  but  the  fruits 
of  his  victory,  and  our  imperiftiable  remem¬ 
brance  of  the  valor  by  which  they  were  ac¬ 
quired.  For  himfelf,  folitude  and  retire¬ 
ment  were  the  only  recompenfe  he  could 
aik  for  his  fervices  ;  but  even  this  recom¬ 
penfe,  little,  as  it  feemed,  was  greater  than 
his  country  had  power  to  bellow.  Again 


WASH  INC  TO  N. 


*55 

was  he  wanted  ;  his  nation  called— he  could 
not  refrain  to  liften  and  obey — He  who 
had  been  fir  ft  in  the  field,  was  now  requir¬ 
ed  to  be  firft  in  the  councils  of  his  country. 
In  this  elevated  department  ;  if  any  thing 
could  furpafs  the  reCtitude  of  his  conduct, 
it  was  the  facility  and  moderation  with 
which  he  afterwards  refigned  the  authority 
of  his  office.  Power,  that  delufive  phan- 
tafm,  which  bewilders  little  minds,  had  no 
charm  for  him  ;  but  when  duty  required 
its  exercife  for  the  happinefs  of  mankind— 
at  a  time,  when  the  very  name  of  WASH¬ 
INGTON  had  in  it  the  force  of  magic, 
when  like  a  fecret  talifman,  it  could  har¬ 
monize  the  difcord  of  paffions,  mod  hoftile, 
and  reconcile  the  variance  of  principles  the 
mod  oppofite  j  at  a  time  when  the  diftbnant 
voices  of  conflicting  party  would  have  melt¬ 
ed  into  unifon,  to  proclaim  him  again  the 
leader  of  our  Republic  ;  at  that  very  time, 
when  like  Augujhts ,  he  could  perhaps  have 
managed  his  fame,  to  perpetuate  his  au¬ 
thority,  did  we  behold  the  venerable  Prefix 
dent ,  as  we  had  before  feen  the  victorious 
General ,  defcending  with  complacence  to 
the  humble  occupation  of  an  huibandman. 


MEMORT  of 


156 

His  labors  completed,  how  much 
more  than  his  duties  performed,  our  iiluf- 
trious  hero  was  once  more  permitted  to  en«. 
joy  in  retirement  the  luxury  of  his  reflec¬ 
tions.  Retirement  he  might  have,  but  in 
the  dreariefl  wilds  of  our  continent,  there 
is  not  a  covert,  mofl  hidden  and  infcruta- 
ble,  that  could  hold  a  being  like  him,  a 
moment  inobfcurity  ; — Glory,  like  the  pil¬ 
lar  and  the  cloud,  marked  his  progrefs  by 
night  and  by  day.  As  well  might  the  fun 
conceal  his  difk  behind  the  vapor  of  a  dew 
drop — as  well  might  the  flaming  meteor 
travel  unnoticed  through  the  dark  welkin 
of  night,  as  thou,  Oh  WASHINGTON  ! 
couldft  have  lived  in  thy  country,  unac¬ 
companied  by  its  regard  and  aflonifhment. 
In  thy  own  family,  at  the  head  of  thy  do- 
meftics,  thou  wert  not  lefs  confpicuous  than 
when  leading  to  vi&ory  in  the  van  of  thy 
armies.  In  the  view  of  Americans  thou 
wert  the  fame  illuftrious  being,  whether 
they  beheld  thee  prefiding  in  their  councils, 
or  an  unafluming  umpire  in  a  village  de¬ 
putation  ; — in  thy  hands,  the  meane  ft  im¬ 
plement  of  a  farmer  was  more  graceful  and 
impofing  than  the  feeptre  of  a  monarch  ? 


[WASHINGTON*  15; 

and  in  the  loneliefl  vale  of  thy  farm,  thou 
wert  as  high  and  elevated  as  if  perched  on 
the  fummit  of  towering  Alleghany  ; — the 
luflre  of  thy  character  was  intrinfic,  un¬ 
changeable  ;  it  could  neither  be  increafed 
by  accident,  nor  diminifhed  by  the  cafual- 
ties  of  ftation* 

But  in  his  own  view  the  duties  of  a 
patriot  were  flill  unfatisfied.  All  the  de¬ 
lights  of  youth,  the  energies  of  manhood, 
the  tranquility  of  age,  which  had  been  fuc- 
ceffively  devoted  to  his  country,  he  confid- 
ered  but  as  the  intereft  of  a  debt  which 
time  fhould  not  limit  nor  even  death  itfelf 
annul-— beyond  the  very  coniines  of  the 
grave,  when  fenfe  fhould  lofe  its  faculty  to 
difcern,  and  action  its  power  to  perform,  it 
was  his  wifh  to  continue  in  ufefulnefs  to 
mankind— his  contemplations,  his  reflec¬ 
tions,  (the  very  beggars  privilege)  were  be¬ 
lieved  by  WASHINGTON  to  be  the  pro¬ 
perty  of  his  fellow-citizens— to  his  country 
he  bequeathed  them— were  the  inheritance 
divifibfe,  and  the  whole  world  the  inheri¬ 
tors,  each  man’s  portion  of  the  gift,  would 
be  of  more  value  than  the  wealth  of  Potcfi, 

O 


MEMORT  01? 


158 

or  the  accumulated  treafures  of  the  Indies 
•—it  is  a  treafure  lading  as  virtue,  and  im- 
perilhable  as  his  foul. 

A  few  years  only,  my  Brothers,  have 
elapfed  fmce,  in  this  very  metropolis,  our 
eyes,  now  weeping  at  his  death,  have  gaz¬ 
ed  with  afloniflmient  on  this  wonder,  this 
prodigy  of  men.  Never  fnall  I  forget  the 
folemnity,  the  impreffive  folemnity,  which 
his  prefence  infpired.  Age  forgot  its  de¬ 
crepitude — youth  forfook  its  amufements, 
and  flew  together  to  behold,  in  reality,  a 
being  whom  fame  had  hitherto  prefented, 
but  as  a  picture  to  the  imagination.  (lie 
lias  often  fpoken  of  it  himfelf  as  the  mod 
aiTe&ing  fcene  of  his  life.)  I  have  (till  in 
remembrance  the  awe,  the  love  and  vene¬ 
ration  that  crowded  together  on  my  mind. 
The  gratitude  of  his  countrymen  was  re¬ 
ceived  with  as  much  modefly,  cc  as  if  he 
had  been  in  the  aft  of  apology  for  his 
offences.”— He  could  not  fpeak,  for  fenfi- 
bility  had  choaked  expreflion  ;  but  h>j 
countenance  add  refled  us  in  a  language 

o  o 

more  than  human,  in  a  language,  by  the. 
tongue,  unutterable ;  when  he  bowed,  eve¬ 
ry  heart  that  unrounded  him,  as  if  it  had 


WASHINGTON . 


J59 

received  the  lad  falutation  of  a  dying  man, 
funk  in  forrow  and  dejection.  At  a  time 
when  joy  fhould  have  rent  the  air  with  its 
acclamations,  when  every  eye  would  have 
beamed  with  rapture,  and  every  tongue 
fpoken  in  the  accents  of  gladnefs,  the  fcene 
was  filent  and  folemn,  and  feemed  fearfully 
to  portend  the  fad:  approaching  event  which 
we  now  commemorate. 

tr 

I  had  read  of  triumphal  entries,  of 
conquerors  in  cars,  all  the  fplendor  of  Ro¬ 
man  and  Grecian  celebrations,  and  the  noify 
fhouts  of  a  nation  of  parafites,  were  fami¬ 
liar  to  my  conceptions  ;  but  never  till  then, 
had  I  a  fentiment  of  any  thing  fo  fublime 
as  the  attitude  of  fuch  virtue,  in  fuch  a 
triumph. 

But,  my  friends,  the  circumftances 
of  his  life,  ft  range,  furprifing  indeed,  were 
not  more  remarkable  than  the  fcenes  which 
have  followed  his  death.  More  than  live 
millions  of  people  on  our  own  continent, 
and  if  the  tidings  of  death  have  flown  on 
the  rapid  wing  of  his  living  fame,  more 
than  ten  times  five  millions  on  other  conti¬ 
nents,  are,  at  this  moment  lamenting  the 


MEMORY  of 


160 

fame  melancholy  event  which  we  now  fol- 
emnize.  Americans ,  though  his  neareft  re¬ 
lations,  have  not  a  right  to  monopolize  an 
exclufive  alliance  with  WASHINGTON. 
He  was  a  Man,  the  bed  friend  of  man,  and 
every  thing  wearing  the  form  or  feature  of 
humanity,  mud  feel  a  pride  in  being  called 
his  kinfman.  Vernon  !  high  and  lofty  as 
thou  art,  thou  fecond  Arrarat ,  on  which 
the  Ark  of  American  fafety  was  lodged, 
every  acre  of  our  continent,  as  well  as  thy 
own  proud  hill,  was  refcued  and  protected 
by  his  arm,  and  has  a  right  to  conted  thy 
bonded  pre-eminence  !  Virginia ,  favored 
fpot  of  his  nativity,  he  was  not  thine,  thy 
lifters  in  the  North  and  the  South,  claim  a 
portion  of  his  glory  as  their  inheritance  ! 
Columbia ,  he  was  not  thine,  he  was  a  des¬ 
cendant  of  Adam ,  and  every  foil  and  daugh¬ 
ter  of  Adam ,  may  exult  that  he  was  their 
friend  and  their  brother .  Earth ,  he  was 
not  thine,  he  was  the  offspring  of  virtue, 
the  favorite  of  Heaven  ;  to  Heaven  has  he 
afeended — there  is  his  own,  his  lad,  his 
eternal  abode  !  ! 


WASHINGTON.  i6i 


ORATION , 

ON  THE  SUBLIME  VIRTUES  OF  GENERAL 
GEORGE  WASHINGTON ,  PRONOUNCED 
EE  FORE  THE  HONORABLE  LEGIS¬ 
LATURE  OF  MASSACHUSETTS, 
CONVENED  IN  BOSTON, 
FEBRUARY  8th,  1800, 


BY  FISHER  AMES . 


Jt  is  natural  that  the  gratitude  of 
mankind  Ihould  be  drawn  to  their  benefac¬ 
tors,  A  number  of  thefe  have  fucceffively 
arifen,  who  were  no  lefs  diftinguifhed  for 
the  elevation  of  their  virtues,  than  the  luf- 
tre  of  their  talents.  Of  thofe  however  who 


were  bom,  and  who  acted  through  life,  as 
if  they  were  born,  not  for  themfelves,  but 
for  their  country  and  the  whole  human, 
race,  how  few,  alas !  are  recorded  in  the  long 


annals  of  ages,  and  how  wide  the  intervals- 

O2. 


1 62 


MEMORY  0 * 


of  time  and  fpace  that  divide  them.  In  all 
this  dreary  length  of  way,  they  appear  like 
five  or  fix  light  houfes  on  as  many  thoufand 
miles  of  coaft :  they  gleam  upon  the  fur¬ 
rounding  darknefs,  with  an  inextinguilha- 
ble  fplendor,  like  liars  feen  through  a  milt^ 
hut  they  are  feen  like  liars,  to  cheer,  to 
guide,  and  to  fave.  WASHINGTON  is 
now  added  to  thatfmall  number.  Already 
he  attra£fs  curiofity,  like  a  newly  di (covered 
liar,  whole  benignant  light  will  travel  on  to 
the  world’s  and  time’s  fartheil  bounds.  Al¬ 
ready  his  name  is  hung  up  by  hillory  as 
confpicuoully,  as  if  it  fparkled  in  one  of  the 
conllellations  of  the  Iky. 

By  commemorating  his  death,  we  are 
called  this  day  to  yield  the  homage  that  is 
due  to  virtue ;  to  confcfs  the  common  debt 
of  mankind  as  well  as  our  own  ;  and  to 
pronounce  for  pofterity,  now  dumb,  that 
culogium,  which  they  will  delight  to  echo 
ten  ages  hence,  when  we  are  dumb. 

I  consider  myfelf  not  merely  in  the 
mid (l  of  the  citizens  of  this  town,  or  even 
of  the  State.  In  idea,  I  gather  round  me 
the  nation.  In  the  vail  and  venerable  con- 


WASHINGTON.  163 

gregation  of  the  patriots  of  all  countries  and 
of  all  enlightened  men,  I  would,  if  I  could* 
raife  my  voice,  and  fpeak  to  mankind  in  a 
drain  worthy  of  my  audience,  and  as  ele« 
vated  as  my  fubjedk  But  how  fhall  I  ex- 
prefs  emotions,  that  are  condemned  to  be 
mute,  becaufe  they  are  unutterable  ?  I  felt* 
and  I  was  witnefs,  on  the  day  when  the 
news  of  his  death  reached  us,  to  the  throes 
of  that  grief,  that  faddened  every  counte¬ 
nance,  and  wrung  drops  of  agony  from  the 
heart.  Sorrow  labored  for  utterance,  but 
found  none.  Every  man  looked  round  for 
the  confolation  of  other  men’s  tears.  Gra¬ 
cious  Heaven !  what  confolation  !  Each  face 
was  convulfed  with  forrow  for  the  pad  $ 
every  heart  fhivered  with  defpair  for  the 
future.  The  man,  who  and  who  alone, 
united  all  hearts,  was  dead  ^  dead,  at  the 
moment  when  his  power  to  do  good  was 
the  greatefl,  and  w  hen  the  afpe£f  of  the 
imminent  public  dangers  feetned  more  than 
ever  to  render  his  aid  indifpenfable,  and 
his  lofs  irreparable :  irreparable ;  for  two 
WASHINGTONS  come  not  in  one  age. 

A  grief  fo  thoughtful,  fo  profound, 
fo  mingled  with  tendernefs  and  admiration* 


i54  MEMORY  oir 

fo  interwoven  with  our  national  felf-love,  fo 
often  revived  by  being  diffufed,  is  not  to  be 
expreffed.  You  have  affigned  me  a  talk 
that  is  impoffible. 

O  !  if  I  could  perform  it ;  if  I  could  il- 
ludrate  his  principles  in  my  difcourfe  as  he 
difplayed  them  in  his  life  ;  if  I  could  paint 
his  virtues  as  he  praftifed  them  ;  if  I  could 
convert  the  fervid  enthufiafm  of  my  heart 
into  the  talent  to  tranfmit  his  fame,  as  it 
ought  to  pafs  to  pofterity  j  I  fhould  be  the 
fuccefsful  organ  of  your  will,  the  minifter 
of  his  virtues,  and  may  I  dare  to  fay,  the 
humble  partaker  of  his  immortal  glory. 
Thefe  are  ambitious,  deceiving  hopes,  and 
I  rejeft  them.  For  it  is  perhaps  almofl  as 
difficult,  at  once  with  judgment  and  feel¬ 
ing,  to  praife  great  actions,  as  to  perform 
them.  A  lavifh  and  und i ft ingui filing  eulo- 
gium  is  not  praife  \  and  to  discriminate 
fuch  excellent  qualities  as  were  charadter- 
iftic  and  peculiar  to  him,  would  be  to  raife 
a  name,  as  he  raifed  it,  above  envy,  above 
parallel,  perhaps,  for  that  very  reafon,  above 
emulation. 


WASHINGTON.  165 

Such  a  portraying  of  character,  how¬ 
ever,  mufl  be  addreffed  to  the  underftand- 
ing,  and  therefore,  even  if  it  were  well  ex¬ 
ecuted,  would  feem  to  be  rather  an  analyfis 
of  moral  principles,  than  the  recital  of  a 
hero’s  exploits.  It  would  rather  conciliate 
confidence  and  efteem,  than  kindle  enthu- 
fiafm  and  admiration.  It  would  be  a  pic¬ 
ture  cf  WASHINGTON,  and,  like  a  pic¬ 
ture,  flat  as  the  canvas ;  like  a  flatue,  cold 
as  the  marbie  on  which  he  is  reprefented  ; 
cold,  alas,  as  his  corpfe  in  the  ground  ! 
Ah,  how  unlike  the  man  late  warm  with 
living  virtues,  animated  by  the  foul  once 
glowing  with  patriotic  fires  !  He  is  gone  1 
the  tomb  hides  all,  that  the  world  could 
fcarce  contain,  and  that  once  was  WASH-. 
INGTON,  except  his  glory  ;  that  is  the 
rich  inheritance  of  his  country  ;  and  his 
example  ;  that  let  us  endeavor  by  deline¬ 
ating  to  impart  to  mankind.  Virtue  will 
place  it  in  her  temple,  wifdom  in  her  trea- 

fjiry. 

* 

Peace  then  to  your  farrows.  I  have 
done  with  them.  Deep  as  your  grief  is,  I 
aim  not  to  be  pathetic.  I  defire  lefs  to 
give  utterance  to  the  feelings  of  this  age3 


MEMORT  6 s 


1 66 

than  to  the  judgment  of  the  next.  Let  us 
faithfully  reprefent  the  illuftrious  dead,  as 
hiftory  will  paint,  as  poflerity  will  behold 

him. 

With  whatever  fidelity  I  might  exe¬ 
cute  this  talk,  I  know  that  fome  would  pre¬ 
fer  a  pi&ure  drawn  to  the  imagination. 
They  would  have  our  WASHINGTON 
reprefented  of  a  giant’s  fize,  and  in  the 
character  of  a  hero  of  romance.  They 
who  love  to  wonder  better  than  to  reafon, 
would  not  be  fatisfied  with  the  contempla¬ 
tion  of  a  great  example,  unlefs,  in  the  ex¬ 
hibition,  it  fhould  be  fo  diflorted  into  pro¬ 
digy,  as  to  be  both  incredible  and  ufelefs. 
Others,  1  hope  but  few,  who  think  meanly 
of  human  nature,  will  deem  it  incredible, 
that  even  WASHINGTON  fhould  think 
with  as  much  dignity  and  elevation,  as  he 
a  died  ;  and  they  will  grovel  in  vain  in  the 
fearch  for  mean  and  felfifh  motives,  that 
could  incite  and  fuflain  him  to  devote  his 
life  to  his  country. 

Do  not  thefe  fuggeflions  found  in  your 
ears  like  a  profanation  of  virtue  ?  and, 
while  I  pronounce  them,  do  you  not  fed  a 


WASHINGTON. 


167 


thrill  of  indignation  at  your  hearts  ?  For¬ 
bear.  Time  never  fails  to  bring  every  ex¬ 
alted  reputation  to  a  drift  fcrutiny  :  the 
world,  in  paffing  the  judgment  that  is  ne¬ 
ver  to  be  reverfed,  will  deny  all  partiality, 
even  to  the  name  of  WASHINGTON. 
Let  it  be  denied  :  for  its  juftice  will  con¬ 
fer  glory. 

Such  a  life  as  WASHINGTON'S 
cannot  derive  honor  from  the  circumftances 
of  birth  and  education,  though  it  throws 
back  a  luflre  upon  both.  With  an  inquifi- 
tive  mind,  that  always  profited  by  the  lights 
of  others,  and  was  unclouded  by  paflions 
of  its  own,  he  acquired  a  maturity  of  judg¬ 
ment,  rare  in  age,  unparalleled  in  youth. 
Perhaps  no  young  man  had  fo  early  laid  up 
a  life’s  flock  of  materials  for  folid  reflection, 
or  fettled  fo  foon  the  principles  and  habits 
of  his  conduft.  Grey  experience  liftened 
to  his  counfels  with  refpeft,  and  at  a  time 
when  youth  is  almofl  privileged  to  be  rafh, 
Virginia  committed  the  fafetv  of  her  fron¬ 
tier,  and  ultimately  the  fafety  of  America, 
not  merely  to  his  valor,  for  that  would  be 
fcarcely  praife  )  but  to  his  prudence. 


MEMORT  of 


168 


It  is  not  in  Indian  wars  that  heroes 
are  celebrated  ;  but  it  is  there  they  are 
formed.  No  enemy  can  be  more  formida¬ 
ble,  by  the  craft  of  his  ambufhes,  the  fud« 
dennefs  of  his  onfet,  or  the  ferocity  of  his 
vengeance.  The  foul  of  WASHINGTON 
was  thus  exercifed  to  danger ;  and  on  the 
firft  trial,  as  on  every  other,  it  appeared 
firm  in  adverfity,  cool  in  action,  undaunt¬ 
ed,  felf-podefled*  His  fpirit,  and  dill  more 
his  prudence,  on  the  occafion  of  Braddock’s 
defeat,  diffufed  his  name  throughout  Amer¬ 
ica,  and  acrofs  the  Atlantic.  Even  then 
his  country  viewed  him  with  complacency, 
as  her  mod  hopeful  fon. 

At  the  peace  of  17 63,  Great-Britain, 
in  confequence  of  her  victories,  dood  in  a 
pofition  to  prefcribe  her  own  terms.  She 
chofe,  perhaps,  better  for  us  than  for  her- 
felf :  for  by  expelling  the  French  from 
Canada,  we  no  longer  feared  hodile  neigh¬ 
bors  ;  and  we  foon  found  juft  caufe  to  be 
afraid  of  our  protestors.  We  difcerned 
even  then  a  truth,  which  the  conduct  of 
France  has  fmce  fo  drongly  confirmed,  that 
there  is  nothing  which  the  gratitude  of 
weak  dates  can  give,  that  will  fatisfy  ftrong 


WASHINGTON. 


1 69 

allies  for  their  aid,  but  authority.  Nations 
that  want  protedlors,  will  have  mailers. 
Our  fettlements,  no  longer  checked  by  en¬ 
emies  on  the  frontier,  rapidly  increafed ; 
and  it  was  difcovered,  that  America  was 
growing  to  a  fize  that  could  defend  itfelf. 

In  this,  perhaps  unforefeen,  but  at 
length  obvious  (late  of  things,  the  Britilh 
Government  conceived  a  jealoufy  of  the 
Colonies,  of  which,  and  of  their  inten¬ 
ded  meafures  of  precaution,  they  made  no 
fee  ret. 

Thus  it  happened,  that  their  forefight 
of  the  evil,  aggravated  its  fymptoms,  and 
accelerated  its  progrefs.  The  colonifis 
perceived  that  they  could  not  be  governed, 
as  before,  by  affedtion  ;  and  refolved  that 
they  would  not  be  governed  by  force. 
Nobly  refolved  !  for  had  we  fubmitted  to 
the  Britifh  claims  of  right,  we  fhould  have 
had,  if  any,  lefs  than  our  ancient  liberty  ; 
and  held  what  might  have  been  left  by  a 
worfe  tenure. 

Our  nation,  like  its  great  leader,  had 
cnlv  to  take  counfel  from  its  courage. 

tr 

P 


MEMORY  or 


*7° 

When  WASHINGTON  heard  the  voice 
of  his  country  in  didrefs,  his  obedience  was 
prompt  \  and  though  his  facridces  were 
great,  they  cod  him  no  effort.  Neither  the 
objed  nor  the  limits  of  my  plan,  permit 
me  to  dilate  on  the  military  events  of  the 
revolutionary  war.  Our  hidory  is  but  a 
tranfeript  of  his  claims  on  our  gratitude. 
Our  hearts  bear  tedimony,  that  they  are 
claims  not  to  be  fatisfied.  When  over¬ 
matched  by  numbers ;  a  fugitive,  with  a 
little  band  of  faithful  foldiers  ;  the  States 
as  much  exhauded  as  difmayed  ;  he  ex¬ 
plored  his  own  undaunted  heart,  and  found 
there  refources  to  retrieve  our  affairs.  We 
have  feen  him  difplay  as  much  valor  as 
gives  fame  to  heroes,  and  as  confummate 
prudence  as  enfures  fuccefs  to  valor  ;  fear- 
lefs  of  dangers  that  were  perfonal  to  him  \ 
hefitating  and  cautious,  when  they  affeded 
his  country  ;  preferring  fame  before  fafety 
or  repofe  \  and  duty,  before  fame. 

Rome  did  not  owe  more  to  Fabius, 
than  America  to  WASHINGTON.  Our 
nation  diares  with  him  the  fingular  glory 
of  having  condudcd  a  civil  war  with  mild- 
nefs,  and  a  revolution.,  with  order. 


WASHINGTON. 


171 

The  event  of  that  war  feemed  to 
crown  the  felicity  and  glory  both  of  Amer¬ 
ica  and  its  Chief.  Until  that  conted,  a 
great  part  of  the  civilized  world  had  been 
furprifingly  ignorant  of  the  force  and  char¬ 
acter,  and  almoil  of  the  exidence,  of  the 
Britifh  Colonies.  They  had  not  retained 
what  they  knew,  nor  felt  curiofity  to  know 
the  date  of  thirteen  wretched  fettleinents, 
which  vad  woods  inclofed,  and  dill  vader 
woods  divided  from  each  other.  They  did 
not  view  the  colonifts  fo  much  a  people,  as 
a  race  of  fugitives,  whom  want,  and  foli* 
tude,  and  intermixture  with  the  lavages, 
had  made  barbarians.  Great-Britain,  they 
faw,  was  elate  with  her  victories  :  Europe 
flood  in  awe  of  her  power  :  her  arms  made 
the  thrones  of  the  mod  powerful  undeady, 
and  didurbed  the  tranquility  of  their  States, 
with  an  agitation  more  extenfive  than  an 
earthquake.  As  the  giant  Enceladus  is 
fabled  to  lie  under  Etna,  and  to  fhake  the 
mountain  when  he  turns  his  limbs,  her 
hodility  was  felt  to  the  extremities  of  the 
world.  It  reached  to  both  the  Indies  ;  in 
the  wilds  of  Africa,  it  obftru&ed  the  com¬ 
merce  in  Haves  $  the  whales,  finding,  in 


?72 


MEMORT  o? 

time  of  war,  a  refpite  from  their  purfuers, 
could  venture  to  fport  between  the  tropics, 
and  did  not  flee,  as  in  peace,  to  hide  be** 
neath  the  ice-fields  of  the  polar  circle. 

At  this  time,  while  Great- Britain 
wielded  a  force  not  inferior  to  that  of  the 
Roman  empire  under  Trajan,  fuddenly, 
afloni filed  Europe  beheld  a  feeble  people, 
till  then  unknown,  {land  forth,  and  defy 
this  giant  to  the  combat.  It  was  fo  une¬ 
qual,  all  expelled  it  would  be  fhort.  The 
events  of  that  war  were  fo  many  miracles, 
that  attracted,  as  much  perhaps  as  any  war 
ever  did,  the  wonder  of  mankind.  Our 
final  fuccefs  exalted  their  admiration  to  its 
highefl  point  ;  they  allowed  to  WASH¬ 
INGTON  all  that  is  due  to  tranfcendent 
virtue,  and  to  the  Americans  more  than  is 
due  to  human  nature.  They  confidered 
us  a  race  of  WASHINGTONS,  and  ad¬ 
mitted  that  nature  in  America  was  fruitful 
only  in  prodigies.  Their  books  and  their 
travellers,  exaggerating  and  diftorting  all 
their  reprefentations,  afiifled  to  eflablifh  the 
opinion,  that  this  is  a  new  world,  with  a 
new  order  of  men  and  things  adapted  to  it ; 
that  here  we  pra&ife  induftry,  amidfl  the 


WASHINGTON. 


*73 

abundance  that  requires  none  ;  that  we 
have  morals  fo  refined,  that  we  do  not 
need  laws  ;  and  though  we  have  them,  yet 
we  ought  to  confider  their  execution  as  an 
infult  and  a  wrong  ;  that  we  have  virtue 
without  weaknefTes,  fentiment  without  paf- 
fions,  and  liberty  without  fa&ions.  Thefe 
illufions,  in  fpite  of  their  abfurdity,  and, 
perhaps,  becaufe  they  are  abfurd  enough  to 
have  dominion  over  the  imagination  only, 
have  been  received  by  many  of  the  male- 
contents  againft  the  governments  of  Eu¬ 
rope,  and  induced  them  to  emigrate.  Such 
illufions  are  too  Toothing  to  vanity,  to  be 
entirely  checked  in  their  currency  among 
Americans. 

/  i 

They  have  been  pernicious,  as  they 
cherifh  falfe  ideas  of  the  rights  of  men  and 
the  duties  of  rulers.  They  have  led  the 
citizens  to  look  for  liberty,  where  it  is  not  * 
and  to  confider  the  government,  which  is 
its  cattle,  as  its  prifon. 

WASHINGTON  retired  to  Mount 
Vernon,  and  the  eyes  of  the  world  follow¬ 
ed  him.  He  left  his  countrymen  to  their 

Pa 


1 7  4 


MEMGRT  of 


fimpliclty  and  their  pafftons,  and  their  glory 
foon  departed.  Europe  began  to  be  un¬ 
deceived,  and  it  feeined  for  a  time,  as  if, 
by  the  acquifition  of  Independence,  our 
citizens  were  difappointed.  The  Confed¬ 
eration  was  then  the  only  compact  made 
6C  to  form  a  perfect  union  of  the  States,  to 
eftablifh  juftice,  to  enfure  the  tranquillity, 
and  provide  for  the  fecurity,  of  the  nation 
and  accordingly,  union  was  a  name  that 
ftill  commanded  reverence,  though  not  obe¬ 
dience.  The  fyflem  called  juftice,  was,  in 
feme  of  the  States,  iniquity  reduced  to  ele¬ 
mentary  principles  \  and  the  public  tran¬ 
quillity  was  fuch  a  portentous  calm,  as 
rings  in  deep  caverns  before  the  explofion 
of  an  earthquake.  Moft  of  the  States  then 
were  in  fact,  though  not  in  form,  imbalan¬ 
ced  democracies.  Reafon,  it  is  true,  fpoke 
audibly  in  their  conflitutions  ;  paffion  and 
prejudice  louder  in  their  laws.  It  is  to  the 
honor  of  MaiTachufetts,  that  it  is  chargea¬ 
ble  with  little  deviation  from  principles. 
Jts  adherence  to  them  was  one  of  the  cauf- 
es  of  a  dangerous  rebellion.  It  was  fcarce- 
ly  poiTible  that  fuch  governments  fhould 
not  be  agitated  by  parties,  and  that  pre- 


WASHING  TON. 


*75 


vailing  parties  fhould  not  be  vind'i&ive  and 
unjuft.  Accordingly,  in  fome  of  the  States, 
creditors  were  treated  as  outlaws ;  bank¬ 
rupts  were  armed  with  legal  authority  to 
be  perfecutors ;  and,  by  the  fliock  of  ail 
confidence  and  faith,  fociaty  was  fhaken  to 
its  foundations.  Liberty  we  had  ;  but  we 
dreaded  its  abufe  altnoft  as  much  as  its  lofs; 
and  the  wife,  who  deplored  the  one,  clear¬ 
ly  forefaw  the  other. 

The  States  were  alfo  becoming  for¬ 
midable  to  each  other.  Tribute,  under 
the  name  of  impoft,  was  for  years  levied 
by  fome  of  the  commercial  States  upon 
their  neighbors.  Meafures  of  retaliation 
wrere  reforted  to,  and  mutual  recriminations 
had  begun  to  whet  the  refentmeins,  whofe 
never  failing  progrefs  among  States  is  more 
injuflice,  vengeance,  and  war. 

The  peace  of  America  hung  by  a 
thread,  and  factions  were  already  fharpen- 
ing  their  weapons  to  cut  it.  The  project 
of  three  feparate  empires  in  America  was 
beginning  to  be  broached,  and  the  progrefs 
of  iicentioufnefs  would  have  foon  rendered 
her  citizens  unfit  for  liberty  in  cither  of 


MEMORY  os 


1 76 

them.  An  age  of  blood  and  mifery  would 
have  punifned  our  difunion :  But  thefe 
were  not  the  confiderations  to  deter  ambi¬ 
tion  from  its  purpofe,  while  there  were  fo 
many  circumftances  in  our  political  fitua- 
tion  to  favor  it. 

At  this  awful  crifis,  which  all  the 
wife  fo  much  dreaded  at  the  time,  yet  which 
appears,  on  a  retrofpedl:,  fo  much  more 
dreadful  than  their  fears  ;  fome  man  was 
wanting,  who  polfeffed  a  commanding  pow¬ 
er  over  the  popular  paffions,  but  over  whom 
thofe  paffions  had  no  power. — That  man 
was  WASHINGTON. 

;  i 

His  name,  at  the  head  of  fuch  a  lift  of 
worthies  as  would  refled:  honor  on  any 
country,  had  its  proper  weight  with  all  the 
enlightened,  and  with  almoll  all  the  weli- 
difpofed  among  the  lefs  informed  citizens, 
and,  bleflfed  be  God  !  the  Cpnftitution  was 
adopted.  Yes,  to  the  eternal  honor  of 
America  among  the  nations  of  the  earth, 
it  was  adopted,  in  fpite  of  the  obitacles 
which,  in  any  other  country,  and  perhaps 
in  any  other  age  of  this,  would  have  been 
infurmountable  5  in  fpite  of  the  doubts  and 


WASHINGTON. 


177 


fears,  which  well  meaning  prejudice  creates 
for  itfelf,  and  which  party  fo  artfully  in¬ 
flames  into  flubhornnefs ;  in  fpite  of  the 
vice,  which  it  has  fubjected  to  reftraint, 
and  which  is  therefore  its  immortal  and 
implacable  foe;  !n  fpite  of  the  oligarchies 
in  fome  of  the  States,  from  whom  it  {hatch¬ 
ed  dominion  ;  it  was  adopted,  and  our 
country  enjoys  one  more  invaluable  chance 
for  its  union  and  happinefs :  Invaluable  1 
if  the  retro fpeft  of  the  dangers  we  have 
efcaped,  {hall  fufiiciently  inculcate  the  prin¬ 
ciples  we  have  fo  tardily  eftablifhed.  Per¬ 
haps  multitudes  are  ncr  to  be  taught  by 
their  fears  only,  wdthout  fullering  much  to 
deepen  the  impreflion  :  For  experience 
brandifhes  in  her  fchooi  a  whip  of  fcorpi- 
oils,  and  teaches  nations  her  fummary  lef- 
fons  of  wifdorn  by  the  fears  and  wounds  of 
their  adverfity. 

The  amendments  which  have  been 
projected  in  fome  of  the  States  {how,  that 

in  them  at  leafl,  thefe  leiTons  are  not  well 

/ 

remembered.  In  a  confederacy  of  States, 
fome  powerful,  others  weak,  the  weaknefs 
of  the  federal  union  will,  fooner  or  later, 
encourage,  and  will  not  reftrain,  the  ambi« 

O  ^  1 


MEMORT  of 


1 78 

tion  and  injuftice  of  the  members.  The 
weak  can  no  otherwife  be  ftrong  or  fafe, 
but  in  the  energy  of  the  national  govern¬ 
ment.  It  is  this  defeat,  which  the  blind 
jealoufy  of  the  weak  States  not  unfrequent- 
iy  contributes  to  prolong,  that  has  prov¬ 
ed  fatal  to  all  the  confederations  that  ever 
exifled. 

9 

Although  it  was  impofuble  that  fuch 
merit  as  WASHINGTON’S  fhould  not 
produce  envy,  it  was  fcar.cely  poffible  that, 
with  fuch  a  tranfcendent  reputation,  he 
fhould  have  rival's#  Accordingly,  he  was 
unanimoufly  chofen  Prefident  of  the  Unit¬ 
ed  States. 

As  a  General  and  a  Patriot,  the  mea- 
fure  of  his  glory  was  already  full  :  There 
was  no  fame  left  for  him  to  excel  but  his 
Own  ;  and  even  that  talk,  the  mightieft  of 
all  his  labors,  his  civil  magiftracy  has  ac¬ 
complished. 

No  fooner  did  the  new  government 
begin  its  aufpicious  courfe,  than  order  fee  ru¬ 
ed  to  arife  out  of  confufion.  The  govern¬ 
ments  of  Europe  had  feen  the  old  Confed- 


WASHING  TO  N. 


179 


eration  finking,  fqualid  and  pale,  into  the 
tomb,  when  they  beheld  the  new  Ameri¬ 
can  Republic  rife  fuddenly  from  the 
ground  ;  and,  throwing  off  its  grave  cloaths, 
exhibiting  the  flature  and  proportions  of  a 
young  giant,  refrefhed  with  ileep.  Com¬ 
merce  and  induflry  awoke,  and  were  cheer¬ 
ful  at  their  labors  ;  for  credit  and  confi¬ 
dence  awoke  with  them.  Every  where 
was  the  appearance  of  profperity  ;  and  the 
billy  fear  was,  that  its  progrefs  was  too 
rapid,  to  confift  with  the  purity  and  fim- 
plicity  of  ancient  manners.  The  cares  and 
labors  of  the  Prefid ent  were  inceffant :  His 
exhortations,  example,  and  authority,  were 
employed  to  excite  zeal  and  activity  for  the 
public  fervice  :  Able  officers  were  feleded, 
only  for  their  merits  ;  and  fome  of  them  re¬ 
markably  diftinguifhed  themfelves  by  their 
fuccefsful  management  of  the  public  bun- 
xiefs.  Government  was  adminiffered  with 
fuch  integrity,  without  my  fiery,  and  in  fo 
profperous  a  courfe,  that  it  Teemed  to  be 
wholly  employed  in  acls  of  beneficence. 
Though  it  has  made  many  thoufand  male- 
contents,  it  has  never,  by  its  rigor  or  injuf- 
tice,  made  one  man  wretched. 


i8o 


MEMORT  of 


Such  was  the  date  of  public  affairs : 
and  did  it  not  feem  perfectly  to  enfure  un¬ 
interrupted  harmony  to  the  citizens  ?  did 
they  not,  in  refpeft  to  their  government 
and  its  adminiftration,  poffefs  their  whole 
heart’s  defire  ?  They  had  feen  and  differed 
long  the  want  of  an  efficient  Conflitution  : 
they  had  freely  ratified  it  :  They  fawr 
WASHINGTON,  their  tried  friend,  the 
father  of  his  country,  invefted  with  its  pow¬ 
ers.  They  knew  that  he  could  not  exceed 
or  betray  them,  without  forfeiting  his  own 
reputation.  Confider,  for  a  moment,  what 
a  reputation  it  was :  Such  as  no  man  ever 
before  poffeffed  by  fo  clear  a  title,  and  in 
fo  high  a  degree.  His  fame  feerned  in  its 
purity  to  exceed  even  its  brightnefs  :  office 
took  honor  from  his  acceptance,  but  con¬ 
ferred  none.  Ambition  flood  awed  and 
darkened  by  his  ffiadow.  For  where,  thro 
the  wide  earth,  was  the  man  fo  vain  as  to 
difpute  precedence  with  him  ;  or  what 
were  the  honors  that  could  make  the  pof- 
feffor  WASHINGTON’S  fuperior  ?  Re¬ 
fined  and  complex  as  the  ideas  of  virtue 
are,  even  the  grofs  could  differ n  in  his  life 
the  infinite  fuperiority  of  her  rewards. 


WASHINGTON. 


i8r 

Mankind  perceived  fome  change  in  their 
ideas  of  greatnefs :  the  fplendor  of  power, 
and  even  of  the  name  of  conqueror,  had 
grown  dim  in  their  eyes.  They  did  not 
know  that  WASHINGTON  could  aug¬ 
ment  his  fame  ;  but  they  knew  and  felt, 
that  the  world’s  wealth,  and  its  empire 
too,  would  be  a  bribe  far  beneath  his  ac¬ 
ceptance. 

This  is  not  exaggeration  :  never  was 
confidence  in  a  man  and  a  chief  magiftrate 
more  widely  diffufed,  or  more  folidly  eftab- 
lifhed. 

If  it  had  been  in  the  nature  of  man 
that  we  fhould  enjoy  liberty,  wdthout  the 
agitations  of  party,  the  United  States  had 
a  right,  under  thefe  clrcumftances,  to  ex¬ 
pert  it :  but  it  was  impoffible.  Where 
there  is  no  liberty,  they  may  be  exempt 
from  party.  It  will  feem  ft  range,  but  it 
fcarcely  admits  a  doubt,  that  there  are  few¬ 
er  malecontents  in  Turkey,  than  in  any 
free  ftate  in  the  world.  Where  the  people 
have  no  power,  they  enter  into  no  contefts, 
and  are  not  anxious  to  know  how  they 


MEMORY  of 


x8a 

(hall  ufe  it.  The  fpirit  of  difcontent  be¬ 
comes  torpid  for  want  of  employment,  and 
fighs  itfelf  to  reft.  The  people  fleep 
foundly  in  their  chains,  and  do  not  even 
dream  of  their  weight.  They  lofe  their 
turbulence  with  their  energy,  and  become 
as  tradable  as  any  other  animals  ;  a  ftate 
of  degradation,  in  which  they  extort  our 
fcorn,  and  engage  our  pity,  for  the  mifery 
they  do  not  feel.  Yet  that  heart  is  a  bafe 
one,  and  fit  only  for  a  flave’s  bofom,  that 
would  not  bleed  freely,  rather  than  fub- 
mit  to  fuch  a  condition  ;  for  liberty  with 
all  its  parties  and  agitations  is  more  defira- 
ble  than  flavery.  Who  would  not  prefer 
the  republics  of  ancient  Greece,  where 
liberty  once  fubfifted  in  its  excefs,  its  de¬ 
lirium,  teriible  in  its  charms,  and  gliften- 
ing  to  the  laft  with  the  blaze  of  the  very 
fire  that  confumed  it  ? 

I  do  not  know  that  I  ought,  but  I  am 
fure  that  I  do,  prefer  thofe  republics  to  the 
dozing  flavery  of  the  modern  Greece, 
where  the  degraded  wretches  have  fullered 
fcorn  till  they  merit  it,  where  they  tread 
on  claflic  ground,  on  the  afhes  of  heroes 
and  patriots,  unconscious  of  their  anceftry. 


WA  S  RING  TO  N. 


183 

ignorant  of  the  nature,  and  almoft  of  the 
name  of  liberty,  and  infenfible  even  to  the 
paffion  for  it.  Who,  on  this  contraft,  can 
forbear  to  fay,  it  is  the  modern  Greece  that 
lies  buried,  that  fleeps  forgotten  in  the 
caves  of  Turkifh  darknefs  ?  It  is  the  ancient 
G  reece  that  lives  in  remembrance,  that  is 
(till  bright  with  glory,  (till  frefh  in  immor¬ 
tal  youth.  They  are  unworthy  of  liberty, 
who  entertain  a  lefs  exalted  idea  of  its  ex¬ 
cellence.  The  misfortune  is,  that  thofc 
who  profefs  to  be  its  moft  paffionate  ad¬ 
mirers  have,  generally,  the  leaf!:  cotnpre- 
henfion  of  its  hazards  and  impediments  r 
they  exped  that  an  enthufraftic  admiration 
of  its  nature  will  reconcile  the  multitude 
to  the  irkfomenefs  of  its  reftraints.  Delu* 
five  expedition  !  WASHINGTON  was 
not  thus  deluded.  We  have  his  folernn 
warning  again  ft  the  often  fatal  propenfities 
of  liberty.  He  had  refleded,  that  men  are 
often  falfe  to  their  country  and  their  honor, 
falfe  to  duty  and  even  to  their  intereft  ; 
but  multitudes  of  men  are  never  long  falfe 
or  deaf  to  their  paffions  ;  thtfe  will  find 
obftacies  in  the  laws,  affociates  in  party. 
The  fellowfhips  thus  formed  are  more  inti- 


184 


MEMORT  0? 


mate,  and  impofe  commands  more  imperi¬ 
ous,  than  thofe  of  fociety. 

Thus  party  forms  a  (late  within  the 
ffate,  and  is  animated  by  a  rivalfhip,  fear, 
and  hatred,  of  its  fuperior.  When  this 
happens,  ;the  merits  of  the  government 
will  become  frefh  provocations  and  offen¬ 
ces  ;  for  they  are  the  merits  of  an  enemy. 
No  wonder  then,  that  as  foon  as  party 
found  the  virtue  and  glory  of  WASH¬ 
INGTON  were  obftacles,  the  attempt  was 
made,  by  calumny,  to  furmount  them  both. 
For  this,  the  greateft  of  all  his  trials,  we 
know  that  he  was  prepared.  He  knew 
that  the  government  muff  poffefs  fufficient 
ffrength  from  within  or  without,  or  fall  a 
victim  to  faction.  This  interior  ffrength 
was  plainly  inadequate  to  its  defence,  un- 
lefs  it  could  be  reinforced  from  without  by 
the  zeal  and  patriotism  of  the  citizens  ; 
and  this  latter  refourcc  was  certainly  as  ac- 
ceffible  to  Prefident  WASHINGTON,  as 
to  any  chief  magiffrate  that  ever  lived. 
The  life  of  the  federal  government,  he 
confidered,  was  in  the  breath  of  the  peo¬ 
ple’s  noftriis :  whenever  they  fhouid  hag- 


TV  ASHING  TON. 


lu5 

pen  to  be  fo  infatuated  or  inflamed  as  to 
abandon  its  defence,  its  end  muft  be  as 
fpeedy,  and  might  be  as  tragical,  as  a  con- 
flitution  for  France. 

While  the  Prefident  was  thus  ad- 
miniflering  the  government,  in  fo  wife  and 
juft  a  manner,  as  to  engage  the  great  ma¬ 
jority  of  the  enlightened  and  virtuous  citi¬ 
zens  to  co-operate  with  him  for  its  fupport, 
and  while  he  indulged  the  hope  that  time 
and  habit  were  confirming  their  attach¬ 
ment,  the  French  revolution  had  reached 
that  point  in  its  progrefs,  when  its  terrible 
principles  began  to  agitate  all  civilized  na¬ 
tions.  I  will  not,  on  this  occafion,  detain 
you  to  exprefs,  though  my  thoughts  teem 
with  it,  my  deep  abhorrence  of  that  revo¬ 
lution  ;  its  defpotifm,  by  the  mob  or  the 
military,  from  the  firft,  and  its  hypocrify 
of  morals  to  the  lafl.  Scenes  have  palled 
there  which  exceed  defcription,  and  which, 
for  other  reafons,  I  will  not  attempt  to  def- 
cribe  ;  for  it  would  not  be  pofiible,  even 
at  this  diflance  of  time,  and  with  the  fea 
between  us  and  France,  to  go  through  with 
the  recital  of  them,  without  perceiving 


MEMORY  of 


1 86 

horror  gather,  like  a  frod,  about  the  heart, 
and  a! molt  dop  its  pulfe.  That  revolution 
has  been  condant  in  nothing  but  its  vicif- 
fitudes,  and  its  promifes  ;  always  delufive 
but  always  renewed,  to  eftablifh  philofophy 
by  crimes,  and  liberty  by  the  fword.  The 
people  of  France,  if  they  are  not  like  the 
modern  Greeks,  find  their  cap  of  liberty  is 
a  foldier’s  helmet  ;  and,  with  ail  their  im¬ 
itation  of  didators  and  confuls,  their  ex¬ 
uded  fimiiitude  to  thtfe  Roman  orna¬ 
ments,  is  in  their  chains.  The  nations  of 
Europe  perceive  another  refemblance,  in 
their  all  conquering  ambition. 

But  it  is  only  the  influence  of  that 
event  on  America,  and  on  the  meafures  of 
the  Prefident,  that  belongs  to  my  fubjed. 
It  would  be  ingratefully  wrong  to  his  char¬ 
acter  to  be  filent  in  refped  to  a  part  of  it, 
which  has  the  mod  fignally  illudrated  his 
virtues. 

The  genuine  charader  of  that  Revo¬ 
lution  is  not  even  yet  fo  well  underdood  as 
the  didates  of  felf-prefervation  require  it 
fhould  be.  The  chief  duty  and  care  of  all 
Governments  is  to  proted  the  rights  of 


WASHINGTON. 


1 87 


property,  and  the  tranquillity  of  fociety. 
The  leaders  of  the  French  Revolution, 
from  the  beginning,cxcited  the  poor  againlt 
the  rich  :  This  has  made  the  rich  poor,  but 
it  will  never  make  the  poor  rich*  On  the 
contrary,  they  were  ufed  only  as  blind  in- 
druments  to  make  thofe  leaders  mailers, 
fu  ll  of  the_adverfe  party,  and  then  of  the 
State.  Thus  the  powers  of  the  State  were 
turned  round  into  a  direction  exa&ly  con¬ 
trary  to  the  proper  one,  not  to  preferve 
tranquillity  and  redrain  violence,  but  to 
excite  violence  by  the  lure  of  power,  and 
plunder,  and  vengeance.  Thus  all  France 
has  been,  and  Hill  is,  as  much  the  prize  of 
the  ruling  party  as  a  captured  (hip  ;  and  if 
any  right  or  pofTeflion  has  efcaped  conhf- 
cation,  there  is  none  that  has  not  been  liable 
to  it. 

Thus  it  clearly  appears  that,  in  its 
origin,  its  chara&er,  and  its  means,  the 
government  of  that  country  is  revolution¬ 
ary  ;  that  is,  not  only  different  from,  but 
direflly  contrary  to,  every  regular  and  well 
ordered  fociety.  It  is  a  danger,  fimilar  in 
its  kind,  and  at  lead  equal  in  degree,  to 
that,  with  which  ancient  Rome  menaced 


A/# MO RT  op 


1S8 

her  enemies.  The  allies  of  Rome  were 
Slaves  ;  and  it  cod  fome  hundred  years 
efforts  of  her  policy  and  arms,  to  make  her 
enemies  her  allies.  Nations,  at  this  day, 
can  trud  no  better  to  treaties  ;  they  can¬ 
not  even  trud  to  arms,  unlefs  they  are  ufed 
with  a  fpirit  and  perfeverance  becoming 
the  magnitude  of  their  danger.  For  the 
French  revolution  has  been,  from  the  fird, 
hodile  to  all  right  and  judice,  to  all  peace 
and  order  in  fociety ;  and,  therefore,  its 
very  exidence  has  been  a  date  of  warfare 
againd  the  civilized  world,  and  mod  of  all 
againd  free  and  orderly  Republics.  For 
fuch  are  never  without  fa&ions,  ready  to 
be  the  allies  of  France,  and  to  aid  her  in  the 
work  of  dednndion.  Accordingly,  fcarce- 
lyany  but  Republics  have  they  fubverted. 
Such  governments,  by  fhowing  in  practice 
.what  Republican  Liberty  is9  deteft  French 
iinpodure,  and  ihow  what  their  pretexts 
are  not . 

To  fubvert  them,  therefore,  they  had, 
befides  the  facility  that  faftion  affords,  the 
double  excitement  of  removing  a  reproach, 
and  converting  their  greated  obdacles  into 
their  molt  efficient  auxiliaries. 


WASHINGTON. 


189 


Who  then,  on  careful  reflection,  will 
be  furprifed,  that  the  French  and  their  par- 
tizans  inftantly  conceived  the  defire,  and 
made  the  mod  powerful  attempts  to  revo¬ 
lutionize  the  American  Government  ?  But 
it  will  hereafter  feem  ftrange  that  their 
exceffes  fhould  be  excufed,  as  the  effects  of 
a  druggie  for  liberty,  and*  that  fo  many  of 
our  citizens  fhould  be  flattered,  while  they 
were  infulted,  with  the  idea,  that  our  ex*- 
ample  was  copied,  and  our  principles  pui^ 
fued.  Nothing  was  ever  more  falfe,  or 
more  fafcinating.  Our  liberty  depends  011 
our  education,  our  laws,  and  habits,  to 
which  even  prejudices  yield  ;  on  the  difper- 
fion  of  our  people  on  farms,  and  on  the  ai« 
mod  equal  diffufion  of  property  \  it  isfound- 
ed  on  morals  and  religion,  whofe  authority 
reigns  in  the  heart,  and  on  the  influence  all 
thefe  produce  on  public  opinion  before 
that  opinion  governs  rulers.  Here  liberty 
is  redraint,  there  it  is  violence  ;  here  it  is 
mild  and  cheering,  like  the  morning  fun  of 
our  fu aimer,  brightening  the  -hills,  and 
making  the  vallies  green  \  there  it  is  like 
the  fun,  when  his  rays  dart  pedilence  on 
the  fands  of  Africa.  American  liberty 
calms  and  redrains  the  licentious  paflions, 


MEMORT  of 


190 

like  an  angel  that  fays  to  the  winds 
and  troubled  feas,  be  (till.  But  how  has 
French  licentioufnefs  appeared  to  the 
wretched  citizens  of  Switzerland  and  Ve¬ 
nice  ?  Do  not  their  haunted  imaginations, 
even  when  they  wake,  reprefent  her  as'  a 
monfter,  with  eyes  that  flaih  wild  fire, 
hands  that  hurl  thunderbolts,  a  voice  that 
(hakes  the  foundation  of  the  hills  ?  She 
(lands,  and  her  ambition  meafures  the 
earth  ;  (he  fpeaks,  and  an  epidemic  fury 
feizes  the  Nations. 

Experience  is  loft  upon  us,  if  v/e 
deny,  that  it  had  feized  a  large  part  of  the 
American  Nation.  It  is  as  fober,  and  in¬ 
telligent,  as  free,  and  as  worthy  to  be  free, 
as  any  in  the  world  ;  yet,  like  all  other  peo¬ 
ple,  we  have  pailions  and  prejudices,  and 
they  had  received  a  violent  impulfe,  which, 
for  a  time,  milled  us. 

Jacchinism  had  become  here,  as  in 
France,  rather  a  feet  than  a  party  ;  inspir¬ 
ing  a  fanaticifm  that  was  equally  intolerant 
and  contagious.  The  delufion  wras  gene¬ 
ral  enough  to  be  thought  the  voice  of  the 
people,  therefore  claiming  authority  with- 


WASHINGTON. 


*9* 

out  proof ;  and  jealous  enough  to  exact 
acquiefcence  without  a  murmur  of  con¬ 
tradiction.  Some  progrefs  was  made  in 
training  multitudes  to  be  vindictive  and  fe¬ 
rocious.  To  them  nothing  feemed  amiable* 
but  the  revolutionary  juflice  of  Paris  ; 
nothing  terrible,  but  the  government  and 
juflice  cf  America.  The  very  name  of 
Patriots  was  claimed  and  applied  in  propor¬ 
tion  as  the  citizens  had  alienated  their 
hearts  from  America,  and  transferred  their 
affedtions  to  their  foreign  corrupter.  Party 
dilcerned  its  intimate  connexion  of  interefl 
with  France,  and  confummated  its  profli¬ 
gacy  by  yielding  to  foreign  influence. 

The  views  of  thefe  allies  required  that 
this  country  fhould  engage  in  war  with 
Great-Britain.  Nothing  lefs  would  give  ro 
France  all  the  means  of  annoying  this 
dreaded  rival  :  Nothing  lefs  would  enfure 
the  fubjeCtion  of  America,  as  a  Satellite  to 
the  ambition  of  France :  Nothing  elfe 
could  make  a  Revolution  here  perfectly  in¬ 
evitable. 

For  this  end,  the  minds  of  the  citi¬ 
zens  were  artfully  inflamed,  and  the  mo- 


MEMORT  of 


ment  was  watched,  and  impatiently  waited 
for,  when  their  long  heated  padions  fhould 
be  in  fufion,  to  pour  them  forth,  like  the 
lava  of  a  volcano,  to  blacken  and  confume 
the  peace  and  government  of  our  country. 

The  fydematic  operations  of  a  fa&ion 
under  foreign  influence  had  begun  to  ap« 
pear,  and  were  fuccefiively  purfued,  in  a 
manner  too  deeply  alarming  to  be  foon  for* 
gotten.  Who  of  us  does  not  remember 
this  word  of  evils  in  this  word  of  ways  i 
Shame  would  forget,  if  it  could,  that,  in 
one  of  the  States,  amendments  were  pro« 
pofed  to  break  down  the  Federal  Senate, 
which,  as  in  the  State  Governments,  is  a 
great  bulwark  of  the  public  order.  To 
break  down  another,  an  extravagant  judi¬ 
ciary  power  was  claimed  for  States.  In 
another  State  a  rebellion  was  fomented  by 
the  agent  of  France :  And  who,  without 
frefh  indignation,  can  remember,  that  the 
powers  of  Government  were  openly  ufurp- 
ed  ;  troops  levied,  and  fhips  fitted  out  to 
fight  for  her  ?  Nor  can  any  true  friend  to 
our  Government  ccnfider  without  dread, 
that,  foon  afterwards,  the  treaty  making 


WASHINGTON. 


*93 

power  was  boldly  challengedfor  a  branch 
of  the  Government,  from  which  the  Condi- 
lution  has  wifely  withholden  it. 

I  am  oppreffed,  and  know  not  how  to 
proceed  with  my  fubjed — WASHING¬ 
TON,  bleffed  be  God  !  who  endued  him 
with  wifdom  and  clothed  him  with  power 
—WASHINGTON  iffued  his  Proclama¬ 
tion  of  Neutrality,  and,  at  an  early  period, 
arrefted  the  intrigues  of:  France  and  the 
paffions  of  his  countrymen,  on  the  very 
edge  of  the  precipice  of  war  and  revolution. 

This  ad  of  firmnefs,  at  the  hazard  of 
his  reputation  and  peace,  entitles  him  to 
the  name  of  the  fird  of  Patriots.  Time 
was  gained  for  the  Citizens  to  recover  their 
virtue  and  good  fenfe,  and  they  foon  re¬ 
covered  them.  The  cribs  was  puffed,  and 
America  was  fayed. 

You  and  I,  mod  refpeded  fellow'- citi¬ 
zens,  fhould  be  fooner  tired  than  fatisfted 
in  recounting  the  particulars  of  this  illudri- 
ous  man’s  life. 

How  great  he  appeared,  while  he  ad- 
minidered  the  Government,  how  much 

R 


194 


MEMORT  or 


greater  when  he  retired  from  it,  how  he  ac¬ 
cepted  the  Chief  military  command  under 
his  wife  and  upright  fucceifor,  how  his  life 
was  unfpotted  like  his  fame,  and  how  his 
death  was  worthy  of  his  life,  are  fo  many 
diftindt  fubjects  of  inftruction,  and  each  of 
them  fmgly  more  than  enough  for  aneulogi- 
um.  I  leave  the  talk,  however,  to  hiftory 
and  to  poflerity  ;  they  will  be  faithful  to  it. 

It  is  not  impoffible,  that  feme  will  af¬ 
fect  to  confider  the  honors  paid  to  this  great 
Patriot,  by  the  Nation,  as  excefiive,  idola¬ 
trous,  and  degrading  to  free-men,  who  are 
all  equal.  I  anfwer,  that  refufing  to  virtue 
its  legitimate  honors  would  not  prevent 
their  being  Iavifhed,  in  future,  on  any 
worthlefs  and  ambitious  favorite.  If  this 
day’s  example  (hould  have  its  natural  effect, 
it  will  be  falutary.  Let  fuch  honors  be  fo 
conferred  only  when,  in  future,  they  (hall 
be  fo  merited  :  Then  the  public  fentiment 
will  not  be  mined,  nor  the  principles  of  a 
juft  equality  corrupted.  The  beft  evidence 
of  reputation  is  a  man’s  whole  life.  We 
have  now,  alas  !  all  WASHINGTON’S 
before  us.  There  has  fcarcely  appeared  a 
really  great  man,  whofe  character  has  been 


WASHINGTON. 


*95 


more  admired  in  his  life  time,  or  lels  cor¬ 
rectly  underllood  by  his  admirers.  When 
it  is  comprehended,  it  is  no  eafy  talk  to  de¬ 
lineate  its  excellencies  in  fuch  a  manner, 
as  to  give  to  the  portrait,  both  interefl  and 
refemblance.  For  it  requires  thought  and 
fludy  to  underhand  the  true  ground  of 
the  fuperiority  of  his  character  over  many 
others,  whom  he  refembled  in  the  princi¬ 
ples  of  aCtion,  and  even  in  the  manner  of 
aCting.  But  perhaps  he  excels  all  the 
great  men  that  ever  lived,  in  the  headinefsL 
of  his  adherence  to  his  maxims  of  life,  and 
in  the  uniformity  of  all  his  conduCt  to  the 
fame  maxims.  Thefe  maxims,  though 
wife,  were  yet  not  fo  remarkable  for  their 
wifdom,  as  for  their  authority  over  his  life  : 
For  if  there  were  any  errors  in  his  judg¬ 
ment,  (and  he  difcovered  as  few  as  any 
man)  we  know  of  no  blemifhes  in  his  vir¬ 
tue.  lie  was  the  Patriot  without  reproach  : 
He  loved  his  country  well  enough  to  hold 
his  fuccefs  in  ferving  it  an  ample  reconi- 
penfe.  Thus  far  felf-love  and  love  of  coun¬ 
try  coincided  :  But  when  his  country  need¬ 
ed  facrifices,  that  no  other  man  could,  or 
perhaps  would  be  willing  to  make,  he  did 


MEMORY  os 


196 

not  even  hefitate.  This  was  virtue  in  its 
mod  exalted  chara&er.  More  than  once 
he  put  his  fame  at  hazard,  when  he  had 
reafon  to  think  it  would  be  facrificed,  at 
lead  in  this  age.  Two  inftances  cannot  be 
denied  :  When  the  army  was  diibanded  ; 
and  again,  when  he  flood,  like  Leonidas  at 
the  pafs  of  Thermopylae,  to  defend  our  In¬ 
dependence  againfl  France. 

/  It  is  indeed  almofl  as  difficult  to  draw 
his  chara&er,  as  the  portrait  of  Virtue. 
The  reafons  are  fimilar.  Our  ideas  of 
moral  excellence  are  obfcure,  becaufe  they 
are  complex,  and  we  are  obliged  to  refort 
to  illuftraiions.  WASHINGTON’S  ex¬ 
ample  is  the  happiefl  to  fhow  what  virtue 
is ;  and  to  delineate  his  charadler,  we  na¬ 
turally  expatiate  on  the  beauty  of  virtue  : 
Mucli  mud  be  felt,  and  much  imagined* 
His  pre-eminence  is  not  fo  much  to  be  feen 
in  the  difplay  of  any  one  virtue,  as  in  the 
pofleffion  of  them  all,  and  in  the  pra&ice 
of  the  mod  difficult.  Hereafter  therefore 
his  character  mud  be  dudied  before  it  will 
be  (hiking  ;  and  then  it  will  be  admitted 
as  a  model  ;  a  precious  one  to  a  free  Re¬ 
public  ! 


WASHINGTON. 


*97 


It  is  no  lefs  difficult  to  fpeak  of  his 
talents*  They  were  adapted  to  lead,  with¬ 
out  dazzling  mankind  ;  and  to  draw  forth 
and  employ  the  talents  of  others,  without 
being  milled  by  them.  In  this  he  was  cer¬ 
tainly  fuperior,  that  he  neither  unhook  nor 
mifapplied  his  own.  His  great  modefty 
and  refer ve  would  have  concealed  them,  if 
great  occafions  had  not  called  them  forth  ; 
and  then,  as  he  never  fpoke  from  the  af¬ 
fectation  to  fhine,  nor  acted  from  any  finif- 
ter  motives,  it  is  from  their  effects  only 
that  we  are  to  judge  of  their  greatnefs  and 
extent.  In  public  trulls,  where  men,  act¬ 
ing  conlpicuoufly,  are  cautious,  and  in 
thofe  private  concerns,  where  few  conceal 
or  refill  their  weakneffes',  WASHING¬ 
TON  was  uniformly  great  ;  pudding  right 
conduct  from  right  maxims.  Kis  talents 
were  fuch,  as  a  Gift  a  found  judgment,  and 
ripen  with  it.  His  prudence  was  confu ru¬ 
inate,  and  feerned  to  take  the  direction  of 
his  powers  and  paffions  ;  for,  as  a  Soldier, 
he  was  more  felicitous  to  avoid  mi  Hakes 
that  might  be  fatal,  than  to  perform  ex¬ 
ploits  that  are  brilliant  ;  and  as  a  Statef- 
man,  to  adhere  to  juft  principles,  however 

R2 


MEMORY  o* 


198 

old,  than  to  purfue  novelties  ;  and  there¬ 
fore,  in  both  characters,  his  qualities  were 
Angularly  adapted  to  the  intereft,  and  were 
•  tried  in  the  great-eft  perils,  ot  the  country. 
His  habits  of  inquiry  were  fo  far  remark¬ 
able,  that  he  was  never  fatisfied  with  invef- 
tigating,  nor  debited  from  it,  fo  long  as  he 
had  lefs  than  all  the  light  that  he  could 
obtain  upon  a  fubjeCt  ;  and  then  he  made 
his  decifion  without  bias. 

This  command  over  the  partialities  that 
fo  generally  Hop  men  fnort,  or  turn  them 
alide,  in  their  purfuit  of  truth,  is  one  of' 
the  chief  caufes  of  his  unvaried  courfe  of 
right  conduct  in  fo  many  difficult  feenes, 
where  every  human  actor  inuft  be  prefum¬ 
ed  to  err. 

# 

If  he  had  firong  paffions,  he  had 
learned  to  fubdue  them,  and  to  be  moderate 
and  mild.  If  he  had  weakneftes  he  con¬ 
cealed  them,  which  is  rare,  and  excluded 
them  from  the  government  of  his  temper 
and  conduCt,  which  is  ftill  more  rare.  If 
he  loved  fame,  he  never  made  improper 
compliances,  for  what  is  called  popularity. 
The  fame  he  enjoyed,  is  of  the  kind  that  wilt 


WA  S  H1NG  TO  N. 


*95 

laft  forever ;  yet  it  was  rather  the  effed, 
than  the  motive,  of  his  cortdud.  Some 
future  Plutarch  will  fearch  for  a  parallel  to 
his  charader.  Epaminondas  is  perhaps  the 
brightefl  name  of  all  antiquity.  Our 
WASHINGTON  refembled  him  in  the 
purity  and  ardor  of  his  patriotilm  ;  and 
like  him,  he  firff  exalted  the  glory  of  his 
country.  There,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  the 
parallel  ends  ':  For  Thebes  fell  with  Epami¬ 
nondas.  But  fuch  comparifons  cannot  be 
purfued  far,  without  departing  from  the 
fimiiitude.  For  we  fhall  find  it  as  difficult 
to  compare  great  men  as  great  rivers.  Some 
we  admire  for  the  length  and  rapidity  of 
their  current,  and  the  grandeur  of  their 
catarads  :  Others,  for  the  majedic  filence 
and  fullnefs  of  their  dreams  :  We  cannot 
bring  them  together  to  meafure  the  differ¬ 
ence  of  their  waters.  The  unambitious 
life  of  WASHINGTON,  declining  fame, 
yet  courted  by  it,  feemed,  like  the  Ohio, 
to  choofe  its  long  way  through  folitudes, 
diffufmg  fertility  ;  or  like  his  own  Poto¬ 
mac,  widening  and  deepening  his  channel, 
as  he  approaches  the  fea,  and  difplaying 
mod  the  ufefubiefs  and  ferenity  of  1m 


20  C> 


MEMORY  op 


greatnefs  towards  the  end  of  his  courfe. 
Such  a  citizen  would  do  honor  to  any 
country.  The  conftant  veneration  and  af¬ 
fection  of  his  country  will  fhow,  that  it  was 
worthy  of  fuch  a  citizen. 

However  his  military  fame  may  ex¬ 
cite  the  wonder  of  mankind,  it  is  chiefly 
by  h  is  civil  magiflracy,  that  his  example 
will  inflruct  them.  Great  Generals  have 
arifen  in  all  ages  of  the  world,  and  perhaps 
mofl  in  thofe  of  defpotifm  and  darknefs. 
In  times  of  violence  and  convulfion,  they 
rife,  by  the  force  of  the  whirlwind,  high 
enough  to  ride  in  it,  and  direCl  the  florin. 
Like  meteors,  they  glare  on  the  black 
clouds  with  a  fplendor,  that,  while  it  daz¬ 
zles  and  terrifies,  makes  nothing  vifible  but 
the  darknefs.  The  fame  of  heroes  is  in¬ 
deed  growing  vulgar  :  They  multiply  in 
every  long  war :  They  (land  in  hiftory, 
and  thicken  in  their  ranks,  almofl  as  un- 
diftinguilhed  as  their  own  foldiers. 

But  fuch  a  Chief-Magi  ft  rate  as 
WASHINGTON,  appears  like  the  pole 
flar  in  a  clear  iky,  to  direCt  the  fkilful 
flateftnan.  His  Prefidency  will  form  an 


WASHINGTON.  tot 

epoch,  and  he  diftinguifhed  as  the  age  of 
WASHINGTON.  Already  it  affuines  its 
high  place  in  the  political  region.  Like 
the  milky  way,  it  whitens  along  its  allotted 
portion  of  the  hemifphere.  The  latefb  gen¬ 
erations  of  men  will  furvey,  through  the 
telefcope  of  hidory,  the  fpace  where  fo  ma¬ 
ny  virtues  blend  their  rays,  and  delight  to 
feparate  them  into  groups  and  diliinft  vir¬ 
tues.  As  the  bed  illuftration  of  them,  the 
living  monument,  to  which  the  fird  of 
Patriots  would  have  chofen  to  confign  his 
fame,  it  is  my  earned  prayer  to  heaven, 
that  our  country  may  fubfid,  even  to  that 
late  day,  in  the  plenitude  of  its  liberty  and 
happinefs,  and  mingle  its  mild  glory  with 
WASHINGTON’S. 


£c2 


MEMORY  os 


K*a 


EXTRACT  FROM  A  SERMON,  ON  THE 
DEATH  OF  GENERAL  WASHING - 
TON,  PREACHED  AT  BURLING- 
TON,  NEW-JERSEY. 


BY  REV.  DR.  WHARTON . 


I  Maccabees,  c.  ix.  v.  18,  20,  21,  22. 

judas  alfo  was  killed .  And  all  Ifrael  mads 
great  lamentation  for  him ,  and  mourned 
many  days s  faying— Row  is  the  valiant 
man  fallen  that  delivered  Ifrael,  As  for 
the  other  things  concerning  Judas  and  his 
wars ,  and  the  noble  ads  which  he  did ,  and 
his  greainefs ,  they  are  not  voritten ,  jfar 

many • 


H  how  much  propriety 


thefe  words  refer  to  the  illuflrious  Man, 
whofe  lofs  we  now  deplore,  you  my  hear- 
ers,  mud  feel  more  powerfully  than  I  can 
exprefs.— The  achievements  of  the  Jewidi 
hero  bear  a  ftrong  refemblance  to  thofe  of 
our  iate  glorious  fellow* citizen  ;  and  they. 


WASHING  TO  N. 


203 


who  read  the  book  s  of  the  Maccabees,  will 
readily  perceive  that  Judas  Maccabees  was 
the  Washington  of  his  day.  His  exploits 
indeed,  and  his  virtues  were  too  numerous  to 
be  written,  as  the  labor  of  recording  in  thefe 
days,  was  attended  with  many  difficulties, 
which  the  art  of  printing  has  happily  done 
away  ;  whereas  the  tranfeendant  accom- 
pliffiments  and  unparalleled  transitions  of 
our  great  deliverer,  hand  recorded  upon 
the  pages  of  multiplied  hiftory,  and  are  be¬ 
come  even  already  the  obje&s  of  admiration 
and  applaufe  among  all  civilized  nations.— 
Well,  therefore,  may  1  be  excufed  from  en¬ 
tering  on  a  detail  fo  familiar  to  every  fon 
and  daughter  of  America  ;  fo  familiar  to 
the  univerfe ;  well  may  I  be  excufed  from 
attempting  to  throw  any  additional  luftre 
upon  the  brilliancy  of  that  character,  which 
for  fo  many  years  has  fwelled  the  fweeteft 
notes  of  the  trumpet  of' fame,  and,  borne 
upon  the  wings  of  unadulterated  glory,  has 
exhibited  to  mankind  the  firh  great  fpe£ta- 
cle  of  the  mod  exalted  heroifm  accompani¬ 
ed  with  dove-like  modehy  ;  of  the  moh  in¬ 
defatigable  patriotifin  untained  with  fclfiffi- 
nefs — of  the  foft  irradiations  of  genuine 
magnanimity  and  greatnefs,  eclipfing  the 


204 


MEMORY  of 


obtrufive  glare  of  pride,  and  effe&ually  op- 
preffing  the  fwell  of  arrogance  and  prefump- 
tion.  At  the  grand  and  Toothing  idea,  that 
this  greateft  in  (lance  of  human  perfe&abil- 
ity,  this  confpicuous  phenomenon  of  hu¬ 
man  elevation  and  grandeur,  fhould  have 
been  permitted  to  rife  fir  ft  on  the  horizon 
of  America,  every  citizen  of  thefe  hates 
mud  feel  his  bofom  beat  with  rapturous 
and  honed  pride,  tempered  with  reveren¬ 
tial  gratitude  to  the  great  author  and  fource 
of  all  perfection.— He  will  be  penetrated 
with  adoniihment,  and  kindled  into  thanks¬ 
giving,  when  he  refledls  that  our  globe  had 
exided  6000  years  before  a  Washington 
appeared  on  the  theatre  of  the  world ;  and 
that  he  was  then  dedined  to  appear  in 
America — to  be  the  ornament,  the  deliv¬ 
erer,  the  protestor,  the  delight  !  !  !— But 
alas  !  he  is  now  no  longer  among  us ;  He 
is  gone,  to  his  death  bed,  inclofed  in  the 
blent  tomb  ;  and  all  that  is  now  left  us,  is 
“like  all  Ifrael,  to  make  great  lamentation 
for  him,  and  to  mourn  many  days,  faying, 
how  is  the  valiant  man  fallen  that  delivered 
Ifrael. My  brethren,  had  the  character 
of  WASHINGTON  reded  folely  on  the 
bads  of  military  achievements,  and  pokti- 


WASHINGTON. 


20£ 


cal  fagacity  ;  had  the  vaft  fabric  of  his  im¬ 
mortal  reputation  been  fupported  merely  by 
the  hollow  columns  of  univerfal  applaufe, 
and  perfumed  with  no  other  fweets  than 
the  incenfe  of  adulation,  proffered  by  the 
wayward  multitude  to  merit,  often  as  falfe 
as  it  is  glaring  ;  had  the  virtues  of  the 
man  been  ftained  by  the  vices  of  the  hero, 
or  the  Chriflian  difappeared  amidfl  the  pre- 
tenfions  of  the  philofopher,  with  whatever 
delight  you  might  have  liflened  to  his  pan- 
egyrifls  in  other  places,  you  would  have 
heard  no  tribute  paid  to  his  memory  in 
this.  The  temple  of  God  is  not  defigned 
to  difplay  the  importance  and  fafcination. 
of  human  glory  and  pre-eminence,  but 
rather  to  exhibit  the  tranfient  glory  and 
emptinefs  of  both.  And  yet,  O  holy  and 
divine  religion  !  who  prefidefl  within  thefe 
walls,  I  trufl  it  will  be  deemed  no  violation 
of  thy  fanctuary  to  have  juft  hinted  at  the 
genuine  glory  and  unparalleled  pre-emin¬ 
ence  of  character  which  adorned  the  great 
deliverer  and  beloved  Father  of  our  coun¬ 
try.  His  refpedt  for  thee,  was  uninterrupt¬ 
ed  and  fmcere.  In  private  and  in  public, 
his  conduct  and  converfation  were  marked 

S 


2oS 


MEMORY  op 


with  an  awful  reverence  for  thy  truths  and 
ordinances  ;  nothing  profane  ever  dropt 
from  his  lips ;  nothing  irreligious  ever  ap- 
peared  in  his  behavior ;  to  Providence  he 
afcribed  all  his  fuccefs  and  his  glory  ;  he 
depofited  all  his  laurels  at  the  foot  of  the 
altar,  and  the  affedionate  addrefies  of  his 
fellow-citizens,  joined  with  the  applaufes  of 
diflant  nations,  indead  of  fwelling  his  great 
foul  with  the  lumes  of  vain  glory,  feemed 
only  to  deprefs  every  fenfe  of  felf-fufficien- 
cy,  and  rivet  more  firmly  his  confidence  in 
the  Almighty.  In  his  lad  pathetic  addrefs 
to  his  country,  he  bears  open  and  ample 
teflimony  to  the  fandions  of  Revelation  j 
and  affures  us  all,  that  without  religion, 
neither  the  wifdom  of  laws,  nor  the  pre¬ 
cepts  of  morality  will  be  able  to  preferve  a 
date  from  dedrudion.  Let  this  fentiment, 
my  hearers,  red  permanently  upon  our 
minds.  It  is  the  important  legacy  of  our 
beloved  WASHINGTON,  calculated  to 
promote  our  worldly  and  eternal  happinefs ; 
and  I  trud  that  he  now  enjoys  the  bleffed 
effeds  of  its  adoption.  And  now  let  us, 
from  the  death  of  this  good  and  wonderful 
man,  endeavor  to  learn  wifdom. 


WASHINGTON. 


A  view  of  his  life  mud  fill  every  ci¬ 
tizen  with  adonifhment,  veneration  and 
love — while  his  death  conveys  the  moil 
affe&ing  leifons  to  a  Chriftian.  Let  us 
prefume  to  follow  his  difembodied  foul  in¬ 
to  the  depths  of  eternity.  There  he  now 
is  alone  with  his  God.  What  a  fudden 
revolution  takes  place  in  ail  his  faitiments 
and  ideas  !  What  avails  him  now,  that  he 
lived  a  folitary  example  of  uninterrupted 
admiration  and  worldly  profperity  ;  that 
he  reigned  in  the  afiedions  of  every  virtu¬ 
ous  heart ;  that  his  memory  is  honored  bv 
the  tears  of  his  own  and  difiant  nations  ; 
the  painter,  the  fculptor,  the  hiftorian  and 
the  poet,  fhall  vie  with  each,  other  in  con¬ 
veying  to  future  ages  the  benign  traits  of 
his  countenance,  the  majefiic  fymmetry  of 
his  perfon,  the  fair  features  of  his  expand¬ 
ed  mind,  and  the  fair  fame  of  his  achieve¬ 
ments  ;  what  avails  him  now,  that  the  mod 
enlightened  ftrangers  from  the  European 
world,  eroded  the  vad  Atlantic,  to  behold 
the  JoOiua  and  the  Solomon  of  America  \ 
that  mighty  vefiels,  and  towns,  and  cities, 
and  provinces,  bear  his  name  !  a  name  that 
feems  to  combine  whatever  is  good,  and 


•2  o8 


MEMORY  op 


great,  and  amiable  among  men!  Alas! 
neither  this  mighty  name,  nor  all  the 
events  that  now  agitate  the  earth,  are  any 
thing  to  him.  The  vaft  extent  of  eternity 
now  difplayed  before  his  eyes  ;  his  everlafi- 
ing  deftiny  in  a  new  hate  of  exigence  j 
the  realities  of  the  eternal  world  opened 
upon  his  view,  fix  all  the  attention  and 
abforb  all  the  faculties  of  his  immortal 
fpirit — thrice  happy,  I  truft,  to  have  learn¬ 
ed  from  the  bleffed  religion,  which  he  pro- 
feffed  and  refpefled,  that  all  the  fucceffes 
and  difgraces  of  this  tran.fi tpry  hate,  when 
not  referred  to  God,  are  little  elfe  than 
empty  dreams ;  that  there  is  no  real  hap- 
pinefs  or  mifery  but  in  eternity.  Thefe 
are  leffons  which  our  divine  religion  had 
delivered  to  the  venerable  and  beloved  fath¬ 
er  of  our  country  :  It  was  his  happinefs  to 
believe  them  :  The  veil  is  now  rent  afun- 
der  ;  and  I  doubt  not  but  this  great  bene¬ 
factor  of  mankind,  is  adtually  perceiving, 
feeling,  and  approving  them,  in  the  bofoirt 
of  the  Eternal.  And  we  my  hearers,  fhall 
very  foon  perceive  thefe  truths  and  ap¬ 
prove  them  alfo.  A  few  days  perhaps, 
but  certainly  a  few  years,  will  put  a  period 


WASHINGTON. 


209 


to  our  mortal  exigence.  Eut  were  our 
Jives  to  be  protraded  even  through  a  feries 
of  ages,  yet  ftill  the  longed  life  would  be 
only  a  moment,  when  meafured  upon  the 
fcale  of  eternity  ;  the  duration  of  the  Iofti- 
ed  cedar  upon  Libanus,  is  not  lefs  con- 
traded  and  precarious,  than  that  of  the 
humble  flirub  that  grows  in  its  (hade.  The 
whole  of  man  feems  to  be,  “  to  be  born  and 
to  die.”  The  fpace  that  intervenes  between 
thefe  terms  of  his  mortality  is  fo  very  fhort, 
that  it  appears  to  be  jud  nothing.  Genius 
opulence,  fame,  authority  and  reputation  ; 
all  the  gifts  and  treafures  of  nature  and  of 
fortune,  are  evidently  contained  in  a  fmall 
vedel  of  clay  ;  which  no  fooncr  falls,  than 
it  is  broken  in  pieces,  and  its  fcattered 
fragments,  lie  ufelefs  on  the  ground.  My 
hearers,  let  us  accudom  ourfelves  to  think, 
as  we  dial!  think  in  eternity  ;  to  judge  as 
we  fhall  then  judge.  Happy,  thrice  happy, 
the  venerable  fage  and  patriot,  whofe  death? 
we  now  lament,  that  in  life  he  regarded. 
God  as  the  fovereign  mader  ;  religion  as 
the  fovereign  law  ;  the  happinefs  of  eterni¬ 
ty  as  the  fupreme  objed,  that  fhould  intered 
his  afiedions.  To  us,  O  Lord,  it  belongs 

82 


210 


MEMORY  of 


not  to  penetrate  into  the  depths  of  thy 
judgments  ;  and  well  we  know  that  human 
virtues,  the  moft  refplendent  and  fublime, 
can  entitle  no  man  to  the  benefit  of  falva- 
tion»  From  thy  pure  mercy  only  can  this 
grace  be  derived.  This  we  trufl  has  been 
extended  to  our  beloved  Father,  and  Pro- 
leCtor.  Though  a  conquering  warrior,  he 
delighted  in  peace ;  and  therefore  we  con- 
fider  he  is  now  called  a  child  of  God 
With  juftice  and  humanity  he  judged  his 
Ifrael ;  and  therefore  we  humbly  hope  that 
he  aifo  has  been  judged  according  to  the 
abundance  of  thy  mercy.  And  if  any  re¬ 
mains  of  human  frailty  were  Hill  hanging 
about  him,  when  ufhered  into  thy  prefence^ 
O  !  may  the  cleanfing  blood  of  the  Lamb 
have  wafned  every  {tain  ;  may  the  gates 
of  Sion  have  opened  to  receive  him,  and  in¬ 
troduce  this  defender  and  benefactor  of  na¬ 
tions,  into  the  everlafting  repofe  of  the 
deft  of  God. — Amen, 


WASHINGTON. 


3-1 1, 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE 


FUNERAL  ORATION, 

ON  GENERAL  WASHINGTON ,  DELIVER- 
ED  AT  PARIS,  IN  THE  TEMPLE 
OF  MARS,  20th  PLUVIOSE, 

8th  FEBRUARY,  iSoo. 


BY  LOUIS  FONTANES . 


narrow  prejudices  which  exift  between  na¬ 
tions,  and  admiring  virtue  wherever  it  be 
found,  decrees  this  tribute  of  refped  to  the 
inanes  of  WASHINGTON.  At  this  mo. 
ment  (he  contributes  to  the  difcharge  of  a 
debt  due  by  two  nations.  No  government, 
whatever  form  it  bears,  or  whatever  opin¬ 
ions  it  holds,  can  refufe  its  refpedl  to  this 
great  father  of  liberty.  The  people  who 
fo  lately  fligmatifed  WASHINGTON  as  a 
rebel,  regard  even  the  enfranchifment  of 
America,  as  one  of  thofe  events  confecrat- 
ed  by  hitlory  and  by  pad  ages.  Such  is 


313 


MEMORY  of 


the  veneration  excited  by  great  chara&ers. 
The  American  revolution,  the  cotemporary 
of  our  own,  is  fixed  forever.  WASH¬ 
INGTON  began  it.  with  energy,  and  fin- 
ifhed  it  with  moderation.  He  knew  how 
to  maintain  it,  purfuing  always  the  prof- 
perity  of  his  country  ;  and  his  aim  alone 
will  juftify  at  the  tribunal  of  the  Mofl  High, 
enterprifes  fo  extraordinary* 

“To  pronounce  the  eulogy  of  the  hero 
of  America, requires  the  fublimeft  eloquence 
of  the  firft  orators.  I  refledi,  with  fenti- 
ments  of  admiration,  that  this  temple,  orna¬ 
mented  with  the  trophies  of  valor,  was  raif- 
ed  up  in  an  age  of  genius,  an  age  which 
produced  as  many  great  writers  as  illuflri- 
ous  commanders.  Then  the  memory  of 
heroes  was  entrufled  to  orators  whofe  gen¬ 
ius  gave  immortality.  Now,  military  glo¬ 
ry  fhines  with  lull  re  [eclat]— and  in  every 
country  the  glory  of  the  fine  arts  is  fhroud- 
ed  in  darknefs.  My  voice  is  too  feeble  to 
be  heard  on  an  occafion  fo  folemn  and  mo¬ 
mentous,  and  fo  new  to  me.  But  as  that  - 
voice  is  pure  ;  as  it  has  never  flattered  any 
fpecies  of  tyranny  ;  it  has  never  been  ren¬ 
dered  unworthy,  of  celebrating  heroifm  and 
virtue. 


WASHINGTON. 


ft 

~  1  & 

Nevertheless,  thefe  funeral  and  mil¬ 
itary  honors  will  fpeak  to  all  hearts  ;  it 
needs  not  the  aid  of  fpeech,  to  raife  flrong 
and  indefcribable  emotions.  The  mourn¬ 
ing  which  the  firft  conful  orders  for  WAS  H- 
INGTON,  declares  to  France  that  WASH¬ 
INGTON’S  example  is  not  loft.  It  it  lefs 
for  the  illuflrious  general,  than  for  the  ben- 
e fa 61  or  and  friend  of  a  great  people,  that 
the  crape  of  mourning  now  covers  our  ban- 
nets  and  the  uniform  of  our  warriors. 
Neither  do  we  prepare  that  unmeaning 
pomp,  fo  contrary  to  policy  and  humanity, 
in  which  infult  is  offered  to  misfortune,  con¬ 
tempt  to  venerable  ruins,  and  calumny  to 
the  tomb.  Every  exalted  idea,  every  ufe- 
ful  truth  is  fccn  in  this  affembly.  I  fpeak 
before  warriors,  the  honorable  praife  of  a 
warrior,  firm  in  adverfity,  modeft  in  victory 
and  magnanimous  in  every  ftage  of  fortune. 
— -Before  the  miniflers  of  the  French  repub¬ 
lic,  I  fpeak  the  praifes  of  a  man  whom  am¬ 
bition  never  fwayed,  and  whofe  every  care 
tended  to  the  welfare  of  his  country;  a  man 
who,  unlike  others  that  have  changed  em¬ 
pires,  lived  in  peace  in  his  native  land;  and 
in  that  land  which  he  had  freed,  and  in 
which  he  had  held  the  higheft  rank,  died 
as  a  Ample  individual. 


2T4 


MEMORY  of 


“  General  WASHINGTON  offers 
examples  not  lefs  worthy  of  imitation. 
Amidft  all  the  diforder  of  camps  ;  amidfl 
all  the  exceffes  infeparable  from  a  civil  war, 
humanity  took  refuge  in  his  tent,  and  was 
never  repulfed.  In  triumph  and  in  defeat, 
he  was  always  as  tranquil  as  wifdom,  as 
fimple  as  virtue.  The  finer  feelings  of  the 
heart  never  abandoned  him,  even  in  thofe 
moments  when  his  own  interefl  would  feem 
to  juflify  a  recurrence  to  the  laws  of  ven¬ 
geance.  This  I  call  thee  to  atteff,  O  youth¬ 
ful  Afgill !  thou  whofe  misfortunes  have  in- 
terefled  England,  France  and  America  ! 
With  what  afliduous  care  did  WASHING¬ 
TON  endeavor  to  delay  a  fentence  which 
the  laws  of  war  would  have  precipitated  ! 
He  expected  that  a  voice,  then  all  power¬ 
ful,  would  have  been  heard  acrofs  the  ex¬ 
pand  ve  ocean,  and  demanded  a  pardon 
which  could  not  be  refufed.  That  voice, 
fo  conformable  to  the  feelings  of  the  heart, 
was  heard  and  felt;  and  the  day  which 
faved  an  innocent  vi&im  ought  to  be  in- 
feribed  among  the  glories  of  victorious  and 
Independent  America.  ***** 

“  It  is  thefe  extraordinary  men,  who 
appear  at  intervals  on  this  vaft  fcene,  with 


WASHINGTON.  215 

ehara&ers  commanding  and  illuftrious.  An 
unknown  and  fuperior  caufe  fends  them 
when  it  is  fit,  to  lay  the  foundations  of  new5 
or  to  build  up  the  ruins  of  old  empires. 
It  is  in  vain  that  thefe  men  ftep  afide,  or 
mingle  in  the  crowd  :  Deiliny  leads  them 
on  ;  they  are  carried  from  obflacle,  to  ob- 
flacle,  from  triumph  to  triumph,  until  they 
arrive  at  the  fummit  of  power.  Something 
fupernatural  animates  all  their  thoughts : 
An  irreliflable  movement  is  given  to  all 
their  enterprifes.  The  multitude  hill  feek 
them  among  themfelves,  and  find  them  not  j 
they  raife  their  eyes,  and  fee  in  a  fphere5 
dazzling  with  light  and  glory,  thofe  whom 
their  ignorance  and  envy  would  call  rafh. 
WASHINGTON  had  not  thofe  high  and 
commanding  traits  which  fit  ike  every  mind : 
He  difplayed  more  order  and  juftice,  than 
force  and  elevation  in  his  ideas.  He  pof- 
felled  above  all,  in  an  eminent  degree,  that 
quality  which  fome  call  vulgar,  but  which 
very  few  poffefs ;  that  quality  not  lefs  ufe- 
ful  to  the  government  of  fates  than  to  the 
conduct  of  life,  and  which  gives  more  tran¬ 
quility  than  emotion  to  the  foul,  and  more 
happinefs  than  glory  to  thofe  who  poffefs 
it :  It  is  of  good  fenfe  that  I  fpeak.— 


MEMORY  of 


ui6 


Andacity  deflroys,  genius  elevates,  good 
fenfe  preferves  and  perfe&s.  Genius  is 
charged  with  the  glory  of  empires  ;  but 
good  fenfe  alone  affures  their  fafety  and  re- 
pofe. — His  end  ‘pourtrayed  all  the  do- 
meftic  virtues — as  his  life  had  been  an  illus¬ 
trious  example  in  war  and  politics.  Amer¬ 
ica  regarded  with  relpect  the  manfion 
which  contained  her  defender  :  From  that 
retreat,  where  fo  much  glory  dwelt,  fage 
counfels  iffued,  which  had  no  lefs  wreight 
than  in  the  days  of  his  power  ;  but  death 
has  fwept  all  away  ;  he  died  in  the  midft 
of  thofe  occupations  which  fweeten  domef- 
tic  life,  and  fupport  us  in  the  infirmities  of 
age.  1  'i—  . . 


cc  From  every  part  of  that  America 
which  he  had  delivered,  the  cry  of  grief  is 
heard.  It  belonged  to  France  to  echo  back 
the  mournful  found  ;  it  ought  to  vibrate 
on  every  generous  heart.  The  fhade  of 
W ASHINGTON,on  entering  beneath  this 
lofty  dome,  will  find  a  Turenne ,  a  Catinat , 
a  Conde ,  all  of  whom  have  fixed  their  hab¬ 
itation  here.  If  thefe  illuftrious  warriors 
had  not  ferved  in  the  fame  caufe  during  life, 
yet  the  fame  of  all,  will  unite  them  in  death. 


WASHINGTON. 


217 


Opinions  fubjed  to  the  Gaprices  of  the  world 
and  to  time  ;  opinions,  weak  and  changea¬ 
ble,  the  inheritance  of  humanity,  vanifh  in 
the  tomb  ;  but  glory  and  virtue  live  forever. 
When  departed  from  this  flage,  the  great 
men  of  every  age  and  of  every  place,  be¬ 
come  in  fome  meafure,  compatriots  and  co¬ 
temporaries.  They  form  but  one  family  in 
the  memory  of  the  living  ;  and  their  ex¬ 
amples  are  renewed  in  every  fucceffive  age. 
Thus,  within  thefe  walls  the  valor  of 
WASHINGTON  attrads  the  regard  of 
Conde ;  Ills  modefly  is  applauded  by  Tu- 
renne  ;  his  philofophy  draws  him  to  the  bo- 
fom  of  Catinat .  A  people  who  admit  the 
ancient  dogma  of  a  tranfmigration  of  fouls, 
will  often  confefs  that  the  foul  of  Catbird 
dwells  in  the  bofom  of  WASHINGTON. 

£C  The  voice  of  republicanifra,  which 
refounds  from  every  part  of  thefe  walls, 
outfit  to  pleafe  above  all,  the  defenders  of 
America.  Can  they  not  love  thefe  foldiers 
who,  after  their  example,  repelled  the  ene¬ 
mies  of  their  country  ?  We  approach  with 
pleafure  thofe  veterans,  whofe  trophies  add 
iuflre  to  thefe  walls,  and  fome  of  whom 

T 


2l8 


MEMORT  cr 


have  gained  laurels  with  WASHINGTON, 
in  the  wilds  of  Carolina  and  Virginia.”— 

C5  But  there  is  fomething  more  due  to 
the  memory  of  WASHINGTON  ;  it  is  the 
union  of  France  and  America  :  It  is  the 
happinefs  of  each  ;  it  is  peace  between  the 
two  nations.  It  now  feems  to  me,  that 
WASHINGTON  calls  to  all  France  from 
the  very  fummit  of  his  dome' — “  Magnani¬ 
mous  People  /”  you  who  know  fo  well  how 
to  honor  glory  ;  I  have  conquered  for  In¬ 
dependence  ;  the  happinefs  of  my  country 
was  the  reward  of  that  victory.  Imitate 
not  the  fir  ft  half  of  my  life  ;  it  is  the  fecond 
that  recommends  me  to  pofterity. 

cc  Yes,  thy  counfels  {hall  be  heard,  O 
WASHINGTON  !  O  warrior  !  O  Legiila- 
tor  !  O  citizen  without  reproach  i  He  who 
while  yet  young ,  rivals  thee  in  battles,  fhall, 
like  thee,  with  his  triumphant  hands,  heal 
the  wounds  of  his  country. — —Even 
now  we  have  his  difpofition,  his  character, 
lor  the  pledge  ;  and  his  warlike  genius, 
unfortunately  neceflary,  fhall  foon  lead 
fweet  peace  into  this  temple  of  war  :  1  hen 
the  fentiment  of  univerfai  joy  fhall  oblite- 


WASHINGTON. 


219 


rate  the  remembrance  of  oppreflion  and  in- 
juflice.  Already,  the  opprefied  forget  their 
ills,  in  looking  to  the  future.  The  accla¬ 
mations  of  every  age  will  be  offered  to  the 
hero  who  gives  happinefs  to  France,  and 
feeks  to  refioreit  to  a  contending  world/* 


220 


MEMORY  of 


% 


TAKEN  FROM  "  THE  COURIER ,s 
A  LONDON  PAPER— OF  THE 
24th  JANUARY,  1800. 


Genera!/  Washington 

■was,  we  believe,  in  his  68th  year.  The 
heightof  his  perfon  was  about  5  feet, eleven ; 
his  cheft  full ;  and  his  limbs,  though  rather 
ilender,  well  fnaped  and  mufeular.  His 
head  was  fmall,  in  which  refpeft  he  refem- 
bled  the  make  of  a  great  number  of  his 
countrymen.  His  eyes  were  of  a  light  grey 
colour  ;  and,  in  proportion  to  the  length  of 
his  face,  his  nofe  was  long.  Mr.  Stewart , 
the  eminent  portrait  painter,  ufed  to  fay, 
there  were  features  in  his  face  totally  dif¬ 
ferent  from  what  he  had  ever  obferved  in 
that  of  any  other  human  being  5  the  fock- 
ets  for  the  eyes,  for  indance,  were  larger 
than  what  he  ever  met  with  before,  and  the 
upper  part  of  the  nofe  broader.  All  his 
features,  he  obferved,  were  indicative  of 


WASHING  TON. 


221 


the  ftrongeft  paffions ;  yet,  like  Socrates ,  his 
judgement  and  great  felf-command  have  al¬ 
ways  made  him  appear  a  man  of  a  different 
caft  in  the  eyes  of  the  world.  He  always 
fpoke  with  great  diffidence,  and  fometimes 
hefitated  for  a  word  ;  but  it  was  always  to 
find  one  particularly  well  adapted  to  his 
meaning.  His  language  was  manly  and 
expreffive.  At  levee,  his  difcourfe  with 
Grangers  turned  principally  upon  the  fuh- 
iefl  of  America ;  and  if  they  had  been 
through  any  remarkable  places,  his  conver- 
fation  was  free  and  particularly  interefting, 
for  he  was  intimately  acquainted  with  eve¬ 
ry  part  of  the  country.  He  was  much 
more  open  and  free  in  his  behavior  at 
levee  than  in  private,  and  in  the  company 
of  ladies  Hill  more  fo  than  when  folely 
with  men* 

Few  perfons  ever  found  themfelves 
for  the  fir  (I  time  in  the  prefence  of  General 
WASHINGTON,  without  being  imprefN 
ed  with  a  certain  degree  of  veneration  and 
awe  ,  nor  did  thofe  emotions  fubfide  on  a 
clofer  acquaintance ;  on  the  contrary,  his 
perfon  and  deportment  were  fuch  as  rather 


222 


MEMORT  of 


tended  to  augment  them.  The  hard  fer- 
vice  he  had  feen,  the  important  and  labori¬ 
ous  offices  he  had  filled,  gave  a  kind  of  auf- 
terity  to  his  countenance,  and  a  referve  to 
his  manners ;  yet  he  was  the  kindeit  huf- 
band,  the  molt  humane  mailer,  the  fleadi- 
eft  friend. 

The  whole  range  of  hiitory  does  not 
prefent  to  our  view  a  character  upon  which 
we  can  dwell  with  fuch  entire  and  unmixed 
admiration.  The  long  life  of  General 
WASHINGTON  is  notftained  by  a  fmgle 
blot.  He  was  indeed  a  man  of  fuch  rare 
endowments,  and  fuch  a  fortunate  temper¬ 
ament,  that  every  action  he  performed  was 
equally  exempted  from  the  charge  of  vice 
or  weaknefs.  Whatever  he  faid,  or  did, 
or  wrote,  was  (lamped  with  a  flriking  and 
peculiar  propriety.  His  qualities  W'ere  fo 
happily  blended,  andfo  nicely  harmonized, 
that  the  refult  was  a  great  and  perfect  whole. 
The  powers  of  his  mind,  and  the  difpofi- 
dons  of  his  heart,  were  admirably  fuited  to 
each  other.  It  was  the  union  of  the  mo  ft 
confummate  prudence  with  the  mod  per¬ 
fect  moderation.  His  views,  though  large 
and  liberal,  were  never  extravagant  $  his 


WASHINGTON. 


223 

virtues,  though  comprehenfive  and  benefi¬ 
cent,  were  difcriminating,  judicious,  and 
practical. 

Yet  his  chara&er,  though  regular  and 
uniform,  pofTeffed  none  of  the  iittienefs 
which  may  fometimes  belong  to  thefe  de¬ 
scriptions  of  men.  It  formed  a  majeftie 
pile,  the  eftedt  of  which  was  not  impaired, 
but  improved  by  order  and  Symmetry. 
There  was  nothing  in  it  to  dazzle  by  wikl- 
neSs,  and  Surprize  by  eccentricity.  It  was 
of  a  high  Species  of  moral  beauty.  It  con¬ 
tained  every  thing  great  and  elevated,  but 
it  had  no  falfe  and  tinfel  ornament.  It  was 
not  the  model  cried  up  by  fafhion  and  cir- 
cumftance  ;  its  excellency  was  adapted  to 
the  true  and  juft  moral  tafte,  incapable  of 
change  from  the  varying  accidents  of  man¬ 
ners,  of  opinions,  and  times." — —General 
WASHINGTON  is  not  the  idol  of  a  day, 
but  the  hero  of  ages ! 

Pl  aced  in  circumftances  of  the  moft: 
trying  difficulty  at  the  commencement  of 
the  American  conteft,  he  accepted  that  Sit¬ 
uation  which  was  pre-eminent  in  danger 
and  reSponSibility.  His  perSeverance  over- 


MEMORT  op 


4*4 

came  every  obftacle  ;  his  moderation  con- 
ciliated  every  oppofition  ;  his  genius  fup- 
plied  every  refource  ;  his  enlarged  view 
could  plan,  revife,  and  improve  every 
branch  of  civil  and  military  operation.  He 
had  the  fuperior  courage  which  can  a  d  or 
xorbear  to  ad,  as  true  policy  dictates,  care- 
lefs  of  the  reproaches  of  ignorance,  either 
in  power  or  out  of  power.  He  knew  how 
to  conquer  by  waiting,  in  fpite  of  obloquy, 
for  the  moment  of  vidory  ;  and  he  merit¬ 
ed  true  praife  by  defpifing  undeferved  cen- 
fure.  In  the  mo  if  arduous  moments  of  the 
conteft,  his  prudent  firmnefs  proved  the 
falvation  of  the  caufe  which  he  fupported* 

His  condud  was,  on  all  occafions, 
guided  by  the  mod:  pure  diflntereftednefs. 
Far  fuperior  to  low  and  groveling  motives, 
he  feetned  even  to  be  uninfluenced  by  that 
ambition,  which  has  juflly  been  called  the 
inftind  of  great  fouls.  He  aded  ever  as  if 
his  country’s  welfare,  and  that  alone,  was 
the  moving  fpring.  His  excellent  mind 
needed  not  even  the  Ilimulus  of  ambition, 
or  the  profped  of  fame.  Glory  was  but  a 
fecondary  confideration.  He  performed 
great  adions,  he  perfevered  in  a  courfe  cl 


WASHINGTON. 


22  S 


laborious  utility,  with  an  equanimity  that 
neither  fought  diflintlion,  nor  was  flattered 
by  it.  His  reward  was  in  the  confcioufnefs 
of  his  own  re&itude,  and  in  the  fuccefs  of 
his  patriotic  efforts. 

As  his  elevation  to  the  chief  power 
was  the  unbiaffed  choice  of  his  countrymen, 
his  exercife  of  it  was  agreeable  to  the  puri¬ 
ty  of  its  origin.  As  he  had  neither  folicit- 
ed  nor  ufurped  dominion,  he  had  neither 
to  contend  with  the  oppofition  of  rivals, 
nor  the  revenge  of  enemies.  As  his  au¬ 
thority  was  undifputed,  fo  it  required  no 
jealous  precautions,  no  rigorous  feverity* 
Kis  government  veas  mild  and  gentle ;  it 
was  beneficent  and  liberal  ;  it  was  wife  and 
juA.  His  prudent  adminiftration  confoli- 
dated  and  enlarged  the  dominion  of  an  in- 
fant  Republic.,  In  voluntarily  refigning 
the  magiftracy,  which  he  had  filled  with 
fuch  diflinguifhed  honor,  he  enjoyed  the 
unequalled  fatisfa&ion  of  leaving  to  the 
State  he  had  contributed  to  eAablifh,  the 
fruits  of  his  wifdom  and  the  example  oi 
his  virtues. 

It  is  fome  confolation,  amidA  the  vio- 
lence  of  ambition  and  the  criminal  third 


226 


MEMORT  of,  Uc\ 


of  power,  of  which  fo  many  indances  occur 
around  us,  to  find  a  chara&er  whom  it  is 
honorable  to  admire,  and  virtuous  to  imi¬ 
tate.  A  Conqueror,  for  the  freedom  of  his 
country !  A  Legiflator  for  its  fecurity  !  A 
Magiflrate  for  its  happinefs !  His  glories 
were  never  fullied  by  thofe  exceffes  into 
which  the  highefl  qualities  are  apt  to  de¬ 
generate.  With  the  greateft  virtues  he 
was  exempt  from  the  correfponding  vices. 
He  was  a  man  in  whom  the  elements  were 
fo  mixed,  that  “  nature  might  have  flood 
up  to  all  the  world”  and  owned  him  as 
her  work.  His  fame,  bounded  by  no  coun¬ 
try,  will  be  confined  to  no  age.  The  char¬ 
ter  of  General  WASHINGTON,  which 
his  cotemporaries  regret  and  admire,  will 
be  transmitted  to  poflerity ;  and  the  mem- 
cry  of  his  virtues,  while  patriotifm  and 
virtue  are  held  facred  among  men,  will  re¬ 
main  undiminiiheda 


i 


I 


APPENDIX. 


_ _  Note  (A)  page  19. 

The  following  intercepted  letter  from  Monf.  La 
Roche,  to  Monf.  L’Mai  ne,  a  French  ofReer,  was 
publifhed  by  Mr.  Thomas  Fleet  of  Bofton,  in  1754, 
Ihortly  alter  it  was  intercepted,  and  is  an  authentic 
and  important  document,  containing  a  particular  ac¬ 
count  of  the  deep  defigns  and  extenfive  plans  of  the 
French  for  fubjugating  the  Btitilh  colonies  at  that 
period  ;  of  their  forces,  and  arrangements  ;  and  alfo 
of  the  defencelefs  fituation  of  the  colonies.  In  a  word, 
it  throws  much  light  on  the  hiftory  of  that  gloomy 
and  interefting  period  of  our  hiftory,  and  developes 
the  nature  of  that  long  and  cruel  war,  in  which  the 
hero  of  the  preceding  memoirs  bore  fo  confpicuous  a 
part. 


Quebec,  Feb,  16,  1753. 

"Sir, 

THE  day  of  my  arrival  at  this  place,  I  fsnt  dif~ 
patches  to  all  the  commanding  officers  in  New  France, 
to  meet  me  within  ten  days  at  Montreal  :  I  alfo 
immediately  fent  expreffes  to  all  the  commanding  offi¬ 
cers  at  Miflifippi,  to  mufter  with  all  expedition,  the 
natives  enlifted  in  his  Moll  Chriftian  Msjefty’s  fervice, 
to  join  our  troops  from  France,  and  proceed  forth¬ 
with  to  Ohio,  there  to  follow  fuch  direftions  as  front 
time  to  time  they  fhsll  receive  from  us  at  Canada  • 
And  according  to  time  appointed,  I  met  Monf.  Du- 
verney  at  Montreal,  with  our  other  officers  ;  at  which 
interview^,  I  received  a  meft  agreeable  account  from 
them,  in  favor  of  our  royal  mailer’s  intereft,  which 
gives  us  a  glorious  prcfptft  of  focn  adding  a 


228 


APPENDIX, 


kingdom  unto  our  dread  fovereign's  dominion*  ;  for 
by  thair  account  from  north  to  fouth,  they  have  en- 
liftedinto  his  majefty's  fervice,  four  or  five  thoufand 
relolute  young  natives  among  the  feveral  tribes  ;  and 
thofe  have  been  for  fome  time  difciplined,  and  well 
equipt  with  all  neceffmes.  They  alfo  inform  me,  that 
our  regulars  from  France,  with  the  natives  included, 
at  Miffifippi,  amount  to  near  two  thoufand  four  hun¬ 
dred,  who  are  to  build  many  ftrong  forts  at  Ohio  and 
places  adjacent,  which  in  a  little  time  we  expeft  will 
prove  impregnable  againft  any  force  the  Englifh  can 
raife  in  thofe  parts.  The  cannon  for  faid  forts  i9  al¬ 
ready  difpatched. 

Our  army  at  Canada,  with  our  regulars  included, 
will  amount  to  near  five  thoufand,  which  we  determine 
to  divide  into  three  main  bodies,  one  to  be  command¬ 
ed  by  Count  Montery,  the  fecond  by  Monf.  Boriel, 
and  the  third  by  Monf.  Eftrides.  Count  Montery 
to  proceed  to  Crown-Point,  and  divide  his  fquadron 
into  parties  on  the  back  of  Albany.  The  fecond  di- 
vifion  under  Monf.  Boriel,  on  the  back  of  Maryland 
and  Pennfylvania  ;  and  the  third  under  Monf.  Eftrides, 
on  the  back  of  New-England  ;  which  are  all  to  be  di¬ 
vided  into  parties,  as  the  commanding  officers  fhall 
judge  proper.  We  defign  only  to  fend  fmall  parties 
of  Indians  into  their  back  fetilements,  to  bring  us  frefh 
fupplies  of  provifions  until  we  are  properly  fortified. 
Father  Anthony,  by  an  uncommon  affiduity  and  in¬ 
fluence,  has  gained  over  to  our  intereft,  a  number  of 
young  men  of  the  fix  Nations,  who  by  the  Engiifli 
are  locked  upon  as  our  enemies;  let  that  fufpicion 
remain,  and  they  may  keep  the  old  men  and  women. 

I  muff  not  omit  to  acquaint  you,  that  our  new 
Governor  is  more  and  more  zealous  and  refolute  to  be 
a  principal  inflrument  (with  the  united  affi fiance  of 
thehoufes  of  Bourbon)  to  fubdueand  extirpate  Here¬ 
tics  out  of  America.  And  fuch  a  glorious  acquifition, 
will  add  a  kingdom,  which  will  prove  fuperior  to  Scot¬ 
land  and  Ireland,  and  furnifh  flors3  of  every  kind  for 


APPENDIX. 


Mi  moll  chriftian  and  catholic  majefty’s  navy,  and 
provifions  and  other  neccfTaries  even  to  profufion,  for 
the  fupply  of  their  royal  majefty’s  pofleflions  in  the 
Weft-IndieB. 

Our  young  Hero,  the  prefent  governor  of  Cana¬ 
da,  did  not  take  this  talk  upon  him,  of  making  a  con- 
queft  of  that  part  of  North-America  po defied  by  the 
Englifh,  only  from  a  motive  which  makes  him  ruler 
thereof,  and  becaufe  he  has  not  a  fuperior  title  ;  but  his 
prefent  difpofition  animates  him  to  be  revenged  on  the 
Englifh  Heretics  for  the  late  indignities  offered  his 
illuftrious  perfon  and  royal  predeceffors ;  and  is  come 
into  thefe  parts,  inverted  with  the  power  and  authori¬ 
ty  of  church  and  flate,  and  fupported  W'ith  money 
and  other  afliftance,  by  his  mort  chriftian  and  catho¬ 
lic  majaftics  ;  and  has  Hkewife  received  the  fupreme 
fandlion  and  fovereign  benedidion  of  his  holinefs  the 
Pope,  to  drive  cut  of  America  peftilent  Heretics,  to 
make  room  for  good  Cothoiics.  1  have  alfo  the  fatic- 
fadion  of  acquainting  you,  that  the  regiments  raifed 
in  the  Switz  Cantons  fome  time  part,  which  our  gov¬ 
ernor  brought  over  w  ith  him,  are  in  high  fpirits,  zea¬ 
lous  to  affift  us  againft  the  Englifh,  and  conceive  an 
infinite  fatisfadion  at  our  prefent  profped  of  pcfTeffing 
thofe  fruitful  lands  now  enjoyed  by  the  Englifh, 

I  have  lately  had  a  conference  with  M’Laifh,  an 
Irifh  Jefuit  of  the  order  of  St.  Patrick,  a  politic  in¬ 
genious  man,  who  has  been  among  the  fever al  tribes, 
influencing  and  enlifting  the  natives  into  his  mafic 
chriftian  majefty’s  fcr\  ice  :  He  gives  me  a  very  fuc- 
cind  and  fatisfadory  account  of  the  fevcral  tribes  of 
natives  near  Canada,  that  upon  any  emergent  occafion * 
we  may  command  what  numbers  we  In  all  hive  occa¬ 
fion  for.  He  gives  roe  alfo  a  particular  relation  of  the 
feveral  provinces  inhabited  by  the  Englifh  on  the  fta 
courts,  and  appears  perftdly  acquainted  with  their 
manners  and  curtoms.  He  informs  me  there  are  many 
of  our  hearty  friends  among  them,  with  whom  he  has 
fettled  a  coirefpondence  by  letters,  by  the  way  of  Cape 


<230 


APPENDIX. 


Breton,  and  from  thence  to  Quebec.  The  Engllfh 
(he  fays)  are  our  good  friends ;  that  the  meafures  we 
have  concerted,  could  not  be  fo  effedually  carried  on, 
were  it  not  that  one  hundred  fail  of  their  veflels  year¬ 
ly  arrive  at  Cape  Breton,  with  provifion  and  other 
necefiaries  from  Philadelphia,  New  York,  Bofton, 
Rhode-lfland,  &c.  which,  by  a  moderate  computation, 
have  brought  this  year  io,oco  barrels  of  flour,  5000 
barrels  of  pork  and  beef,  1500  tons  of  bread,  and  of 
butter,  checfe,  hog3,  neat  cattle,  and  poultry,  even  to 
protufion  ;  fome  of  which  is  fent  to  our  Southern 
plantations,  aad  the  king’s  commiflioners  fupply  the 
magazines  at  Cape  Breton,  and  fend  large  quantities 
to  our  array  at  Quebec,  which  elevates  the  fpirits  of 
our  foldiers.  We  have  alfo  a  good  fupply  of  powder 
by  the  way  of  Cape  Breton.  M’Laifh's  fentiments  of 
the  Englifh  bordering  on  the  fea  coaft  is  fatisfadory  5 
they  having  little  or  no  military  difeipline  among 
them,  no  arms  nor  ammunition,  neither  do  they  know 
properly  how  to  ufe  them,  except  thofe  Oliverian 
heretics  who  took  our  Cape  Breton ;  thefe  caft  a  damp 
on  our  undertakings  ;  they  have  the  fame  Governor 
Shirley,  who  is  an  enterprifing,  refolute  man  ;  and 
when  he,  and  the  puritan  minifters,fay  to  the  inhabit¬ 
ants,  “  Go,  fight  for  your  religion  and  country/' 
they  rufli  like  lions,  and  had  rather  die  in  battle,  than 
fubmit  to  the  didates  of  our  holy  Fathers,  Jefuits, 
Friars,  and  Monks,  and  become  members  of  our 
mother  church.  They  retain  the  mod  martial  fpirit 
cf  any  in  North  America,  and  have  a  tindure  ofOliver 
Cromwell's  blood  remaining  ;  therefore  for  the  pre- 
fent,  we  fhall  not  ered  any  forts  bordering  near  them  ; 
fhould  we  attempt  fuch  a  thing,  even  with  ten  thou- 
fand  men,  M’Laifh  is  confident  we  fhould  be  prevent¬ 
ed,  and  all  our  meafures  difconcerted,  by  the  vigilance 
of  thofe  New  England  hererics ;  for  if  they  could  take 
Cape  Breton  (which  we  imagined  to  be  impregnable) 
what  can  we  luppofe  they  could  not  efFed,  when  their 
indignation  and  refentment  provokes  them  to  eppofe 


A  P  P  E  NDIX. 


231 


cur  encroachments  on  their  territories  ?  And  they  are 
fenfible,  that  when  once  wc  bee  tme  their  matters,  fix 
and  gibbet  will  be  their  portion,  if  they  do  not  fail 
down  and  worfhip  the  images  we  fhall  fet  up. 

Our  defign  is  to  get  footing  in  the  wettern  pro¬ 
vinces,  Lotd  Baltimore  was  one  of  our  mother  church, 
and  a  good  friend  to  king  James  ;  and  in  Mtryland 
and  Virginia,  and  thofe  parts,  there  arc  many  true 
Catholics  that  will  not  fight  their  brethren.  M’Laifh 
acquaints  me,  the  inhabitants  of  Pennfyivania  are  a 
meak,  peaceable  people,  who  will  neither  furnifh  mon¬ 
ey,  arms,  nor  ammunition,  that  if  you  take  their  coat, 
they  will  give  you  their  cloak  alfo  :  thefewe  fhall  in¬ 
dulge  with  many  priviledges,  for  their  not  oppofing 
our  meafures,  and  quietly  furrendering  their  lands, 
and  fuhinitting  to  the  godly  admonitions  of  our  holy 
fathers. 

M’Laifh  likewife  acquaints  me,  that  from  New~ 
York  weft  ward,  the  inhabitants  are  not  fuch  bigots  to 
religion,  therefore  may  more  eafily  be  prevailed  on  to 
be  of  our  holy  religion.  The  rich  traders  in  thofe 
parts,  are  not  concerned  at  our  erefting  forts  near 
them,  from  a  view  of  private  gain  in  the  fur  trade* 
And  M’Laifh  fays,  the  Euglifh  might  have  demolifhed 
Crown  Point,  but  many  in  Albany  and  New  York 
have  received  confiderable  advantages  by  our  fur  trade, 
by  which,  we  have  alfo  been  benefitted,  in  receiving 
ammunition,  &c.  in  exchange. 

There  19  now  a  difpute  between  our  grand  mon¬ 
arch  and  the  Englifh,  relating  to  the  boundary  line  in 
the  North,  and  what  are  called  the  neutral  iflands,  in. 
South  America  j  but  his  mutt  chrittian  majefty  is 
determined  to  decide  the  controverfy  very  foon :  He 
is  now  peopling  the  neutral  iflands,  and  what  can- 
con  wilf  be  rrquifite  to  fortify  the  fame,  already  at 
Martinico.  From  Canada  and  Mittifippi  we  are  to 
have  a  fufficient  number  of  regular  troops  to  join  the 
natives,  fo  foon  as  we  are  prepared  to  receive  them, 
and  thofe  to  be  difpsrfed  on  the  back  of  the  Englifh, 


APPEND  11, 

between  Crown  Point  ant!  Ohio.  Our  officers  are  dt« 
refted  to  fend  proper  peifons  into  the  Enghfh  provinces, 
to  make  a  more  perfedl  difcovery  of  their  ftrength  and 
weaknefa  :  Thofeare  to  deceive  the  Engiifh  which 
(French  policy  has  frequently  done!)  by  amufing 
them,  with  being  deferters. 

Our  grand  monarch’s  will  and  pleafure  is,  that 
we  immediately  build  ffrong  forts  between  Crown 
Point  and  Ohio,  fufficient  to  fecure  fifty  thoufand 
men,  and  fo  fiiuated,  that  upon  any  extraordinary  oc« 
cafion,  they  may  immediately  unite  and  oppofe  the 
Engiifh,  if  they  fhould  attempt  to  oppofe  us  ;  but,  at 
prefent,  they  appear  unconcerned  and  fecure.  How¬ 
ever,  their  numbers  cannot  terrify  us,  when  they  have 
no  difeipline  or  union.  Had  they  as  many  as  Mexi¬ 
co,  before  the  conqueft,  could  boafl  of,  our  regulars, 
headed  by  our  hero,  the  prefent  governor,  would  de- 
Sroy  as  many  thoufands  as  Cortes  did  of  the  Mexicans. 

I  muft,  with  fee  ret  pleafure  to  ourfelves,  tell  yoa 
Sir,  that  we  are  pitying  not  envying,  the  Engiifh  who 
are  peopling  Nova-Scotia  :  In  thus  fatigueing  them- 
felves  in  clearing  land,  and  expending  confiderable 
fums  in  building,  &c.  as  his  mofi  chriftian  majefty's 
pleafure  is,  to  prepare  a  large  fquadron  to  deprive  them 
of  their  labor  and  poffefiions  :  Then  will  they  cry  out. 
Who  would  have  imagined  this  would  have  befallen  us, 
when  no  more  diflurbance  has  been  at  home  ?  When 
this  is  efifefted,  the  Englifn  may  undertake  by  reman- 
Frances,  to  complain  of  a  violation  and  infringement 
cf  treaties. 

I  need  not  its  form  you.  Sir,  of  our  well  concerted 
plan,  which  is,  to  keep  New  England,  South  Carolina 
and  Georgia,  fully  engaged  to  defend  their  own  terri¬ 
tories,  in  order  to  prevent  their  aflifting  the  interven¬ 
ing  provinces,  which  will  fall  an  eafy  prey,  as  their 
ports  will  be  blocked  up  by  our  (hips,  and  thofe  of  his 
catholic  majefty’s,  who  have  alfo  a  fufficient  number 
to  devert  the  Engiifh  fquadrons,  and  keep  them  at 
borne ;  at  which  time,  with  our  numerous  Indian  al- 


APPEND  IX. 


*3$ 

lies  we  fhall  enter  the  Englifh  provinces  of  New- York, 
Pennfylvania,  Virginia,  See*  Our  Indian  allies  eaft- 
vvard,  are  to  attack  the  eaftward  fettlements  ;  and 
his  catholic  majefty  to  tranfport  a  number  of  regulars 
from  the  Havanna,  who  are  to  attack  Georgia  and 
South  Carolina,  which  will  be  added  to  his  other  do¬ 
minions  of  New  Spain  ;  und  his  moll  chriftian  majefty 
to  poffefs  ail  the  land  from  South  Carolina  to  New¬ 
foundland. 

I  need  not  caution  you.  Sir,  to  conceal  the  con¬ 
tents  of  this  letter,  which  you  muff  be  fenfible  fhould' 
remain  an  entire  fecret,  left  the  Engiifh  fhould  difeov- 
er  the  meafures  we, have  concerted  :  and  while  they 
axe  amufing  themfelves  with  idle  difputes  and  debates, 
and  one  province  contending,  and  promoting  jealou- 
fies,  and  railing  groundlefs  fufpicions  of  each  other, 
without  making  any  preparations  for  defence,  let  us 
unite  as  one  body,  as  loyal  fubje&s  and  good  catho¬ 
lics,  then  (hall  we  accomplifh  our  glorious  undertak¬ 
ing,  and  ftng  Te  Deum,  and  celebrate  irsafs  in  thofe 
places  which  have  been  long  defiled  by  the  breath  of 
heretics. 

I  remain.  Sir,  your  obedient  Servant, 

DE  ROCHE. 


Note  (  B  )  page  28. 

Mount  Vernon,  the  leaf  of  the  late  Gen¬ 
eral  WASHINGTON,  is  pleafantly  fituated  on  the 
Virginia  bank  of  Potomac  river,  in  Fairfax  county, 
Virginia,  where  the  river  is  nearly  two  miles  wide  ;  9 
miles  below  Alexandria  ;  4  above  the  beautiful  feat  of 
the  late  Col.  Fairfax,  called  Bellevoir  3  127  from  Point 
Look  Out,  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  280  miles 
from  the  fea.  The  area  of  the  mount  is  200  feet 
above  the  furface  of  the  river  ;  and,  after  furnifhing  a 
lawn  of  five  acres  in  front,  about  the  fame  in  roar  of 
the  buildings  fails  off  rather  abruptly  on  thofe  two 
quarters.  On  the  north  end  it  fabfides  gradually  into 
sx  ten  five  pafiuxe  grounds ;  while  on  the  fouth  it  flopga 


«34 


APPENDIX. 


more  deeply,  in  a  fborr  diftance,  and  terminates  witk 
the  coach  houfe,  ftables,  vineyard,  and  nurfcries.  On 
either  wmg  is  a  thick  grove  of  different  flowering 
fo'efl  trees.  Parallel  with  them,  on  the  land  fide,  are 
two  fpacious  gardens,  into  which,  one  is  led  by  two 
ferpeminc  gravel  walks,  planted  with  weeping  willows 
and  fhidy  fhrubs.  The  manfi on  houfe  itfelf  (though 
roach  embeli  ih;d  by,  yet  not  perfectly  fiuisfa&ory  t j, 
the  chafle  tafte  of  its  late  poflhfibr)  appears  venerable 
and  convenient.  7'he  faperb  banqueting  room  was 
finifhed  after  he  returned  home  from  the  army,  ia 
3783.  A  1  >fcy  portico,  96  feet  in  length,  fupported 
b}  8  pillars,  has  a  pleafing  effect  when  viewed  from  the 
water ;  the  whole  afTemblage  of  the  green  houfe,  fchool 
houfe,  offices,  and  fervants*  halls,  when  feen  from  ths 
Jand  fide,  bears  a  refemblaoce  to  a  rural  village  ;  es¬ 
pecially  as  the  la  ds  on  that  fide  are  laid  out  fo  me  what 
.in  the  form  *f  Ei  glith  gardens,  in  meadows  and  grafs 
grounds,  >rnamented  with,  little  copfes, circular  clumps, 
&  tingle  tiees.  A  final!  park  on  ihe  margin  of  the  river, 
where  the  Englifli  fallow  deer  and  the  American  wild 
deer  are  feen  through  the  thicket,  alternately  with  the 
•vefTels  as  they  are  failing  along,  add  a  romantic  and 
pibturefq tie  appearance  to  the  whole  feenery.  On  the 
oppoiite  fide  of  a  (mall  meek  to  the  northward,  an  ex-, 
teniive  plain,  exhibiting  corn-fields,  and  cattle  grazing, 
affords  in  futruaer  a  luxuriant  landscape  ,  while  the 
blended  verdure  of  wood-lands  and  cultivated  declivi¬ 
ties,  on  the  Maryland  fho re,  variegates  the  profipedt 
in  a  charming  manner.  Such  are  the  philofophic 
fhades  to  which  the  Commander  ia  Chief  of  the  Ameri¬ 
can  army  retired  in  1783,  at  the  clofe  of  a  vi&orious 
%var  j  which  he  again  left  in  1789,  to  dignify,  with 
his  unequalled  talents,  the  highett  office  in  the  gift  of 
his. fellow-citizens  ;  and  to  which  he  again  retreated 
211  179;,  loaded  with  honors,  and  the  benedictions  of 
h'S  country  ;  where,  in  1798,  having  again  heard  and 
obeyed  the  call  of  his  endangered  country  to  command 
her  armies,  he  was  fummoned,  on  the  14th  oh  Dec* 
*799*  to  join  the  Heavenly  Hjfts. 


APPENDIX.' 


a 


35 


Note  (  C  )  page  32. 

Mr.  President. 

€ff  THOUGH  1  am  truly  fenfible  of  the  high  honor 
done  me  in  this  appointment,  yet  I  feel  great  diftrefs 
from  a  confciou  fuels,  that  my  abilities  and  military 
experience  may  not  be  equal  to  the  extenfive  and  im¬ 
portant  truft  :  However,  as  the  Cong  refs  defire  it,  I 
will  enter  upon  tnc  momentous  duty,  and  exert  every 
power  I  poffefs  in  tiieir  fervice,  and  for  the  fnpporf 
of  the  glor.ous  caufe.  I  beg  they  will  accept  my  in  oft 
cordial  thanks  for  this  diltinguifhcd  tcftimony  of  their 
approbation. 

ft  But  left  fome  unlucky  event  ftiould  happen 
unfavorable  to  ray  reputation,  I  beg  it  may  be  re- 
me mbered  by  every  gentleman  in  the  room,  that  I 
this  day  declare  with  the  utmoft  fincerity,  1  do  not 
think  myfeif  equal  to  the  command  I  am  honored, 
with. 

et  As-  to  pay, Sir,I  beg  leave  to  allure  the  Congrefs, 
that  as  no  pecuniary  confideration  could  have  tempted 
sne  to  accept  this  arduous  employment,  at  the  expcnfo 
of  my  domeftic  cafe  and  happinefs,  I  do  not  with  to 
make  any  profit  from  it.  I  will  keep  an  exafl  account 
of  my  ex  pen  fes.  Thofe  I  doubt  not  they  will  dif- 
fharge,  and  that  is  all  I  defire.” 


Note  (  D  )  page  34. 

AMONG  the  many  hazards  to  which  Genera! 
WASHINGTON  wasexpofed,  while  at  the  head  of 
the  American  armies,  the  following  deferves  to 
be  particularly  mentioned.  lathe  month  of  June, 
1776,  while  the  army  lay  at  New- York,  a  plot  was> 
meditated  under  the  direction  of  Gov.  Tryon,  manag¬ 
ed  by  the  then  Mayor  of  the  city,  to  aid  the  king's 
troops  on  their  arrival  at  New- York.  The  plot  was  fo 
far  matured  as  to  have  been  communicated  to  fome  of 
the  American  army,  and  Thomas  Hickey,  one  of  the 
General’s  life  guards  was  engaged  in  it,  and  had  en~ 
lifted  others.  General  WASHINGTON  was  to  hays- 


APPENDIX. 


*3® 

• 

been  taken  off,  either  by  poifon  or  aflaffination.  By  ft 
Providential  and  timely  difcovery,  the  deteftable  de« 
uefign  was  fruftrated.  Hickey  was  tried  by  a  court 
martial,  on  the  morning  of  the  28th  of  June,  found 
guilty,  and  executed,  amidll  the  execrations  of  the  ar¬ 
ray,  at  eleven  o’clock  the  fame  day. 

Note  {  E  )  page  39, 

Ext  raft  from  his  Speech  to  the  firjl  Cong  refs  under  ou> 
prefent  form  of  Government ,  delivered  May  1789. 
Fellow-Citizens  of  the  Senate,  and  op, 
the  House  of  Representatives, 
AMONG  the  viciffitudes  incident  to  life,  no 
event  could  have  filled  me  with  greater  anxieties  than 
that  of  which  the  notification  was  tranfmitted  by  your 
order,  and  received  on  the  14th  day  of  the  prefent 
month.,  On  the  one  hand,  I  was  fummoned  by  my 
country,  whofe  voice  I  can  never  hear  but  with  vene¬ 
ration  and  love,  from  a  retreat  which  I  had  chofen 
with  the  fondeft  predilection,  2nd,  in  my  flattering 
hopes,  with  an  immutable  decifion  as  the  afylum  of 
my  declining  years  :  A  retreat  which  was  rendered 
every  day  more  nectflary  as  well  as  more  dear  to  me, 
by  the  addition  of  habit  to  inclination,  and  of  fre¬ 
quent  interruptions  in  my  health  to  the  gradual  wails- 
committed  on  it  by  time.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
magnitude  and  difficulty  of  the  truft  to  which  the 
voice  of  my  country  called  me,  being  fufficient  to 
awaken  in  the  wifeft  and  mod  experienced  of  her  citi¬ 
zens,  a  diflruflful  ferutiny  into  hh  qualifications, 
could  not  but  overwhelm  with  defpondencc  cne,  who, 
inheriting  inferior  endowments  from  nature,  and  un- 
pradifed  in  the  duties  of  civil  adminiftration,  ought 
to  be  peculiarly  confeious  of  his  own  deficiencies.  In 
this  conflict  of  emotions,  all  I  dare  aver  is,  that  it  has 
been  my  faithful  fludy  to  coiled  my  duty  from  a  juft 
appreciation  of  every  circumftance  by  which  it  might 
be  aflfeded.  All  I  dare  hope  is,  that  if  in  executing 
3&is  talk  X  have.besu  too  much  fyyayed  by  a. grateful 


APPEND  II.  13,7 

remembrance  of  former  inftances,  or  by  an  affeftionafa 
fenfibility  to  this  tranfcendent  proof  of  the  confidence 
of  my  fellow-citizens  ;  and  have  thence  too  little  con¬ 
futed  my  incapacity  as  well  as  difmclination  for  the 
weighty  and  untried  cares  before  me ;  my  error  will 
be  palliated  by  the  motives  which  milled  me,  and  its 
confequences  be  judged  by  ray  country,  with  fome 
fharc  of  the  partiality  in  which  they  originated. 

Such  being  the  impreffions  under  which  I  have,, 
in  obedience  to  the  public  fummons,  repaired  to  the 
prefent  Ration,  it  would  be  peculiarly  improper  to  emit 
in  this  firft  official  aft,  my  fervent  fupplications  to  that 
Almighty  Being,  who  rules  over  the  Univerfe,  who 
prefides  in  the  councils  of  nations, and  whofe  providen¬ 
tial  aids  can  fupply  every  human  defeft,  that  his  bene- 
diftion  may  cor.fecrate  to  the  liberties  and  happinefs 
of  the  people  of  the  United  States,  a  government  infli- 
tuted  by  themfelves  for  thefe  effential  purpofes,  and 
may  enable  every  instrument  employed  in  its  adminif- 
tration,  to  execute  with  fuccefs,  the  fuoftions  allotted 
to  h:s  charge.  In  tendering  this  homage  to  the  great 
A  uthcr  of  every  public  and  private  good,  I  allure  my- 
felf  that  it  expreffes  your  fentiments  not  le fa  than  my 
own;  nor  thofe  of  my  fellow-citizens  at  large,  lefs 
than  either.  No  people  can  be  bound  to  acknowledge 
and  adore  the  in vifible  hand,  which  condufts  the  affairs 
of  men,  more  than  the  people  of  the  United  States, 
Every  flep,  by  w  hich  they  have  advanced  to  the  char- 
after  of  an  independent  nation,  feems  to  have  been  d if- 
tinguifhed  by  fome  token  of  providential  agency.  And 
in  the  important  revolution  juft  accomplilhed  in  the> 
fyftem  of  their,  united  government,  the  tranquil  delibe¬ 
rations  and  voluntary  confent  of  fo  many  dillinft  com¬ 
munities,  from  which  the  event  has  refuked,  cannot 
be  compared  with  the  means  by  which  moft  govern¬ 
ments  have  been  efta'oiilhed,  without  fome  return  or 
pioos  gratitude  along  with  an  humble  anticipation  of 
the  future  bleffings  which  the  paft  feem  to  prefage, 
*Ehefe  rdkftions,  arifing  cut  of-  the  prefent  crifis* 


APPENDIX. . 


23S 

have  forced  themfelves  too  ftrongly  on  my  mind  to  be 
fupprefled.  You  will  join  with  me,  I  truft,  in  think- 
ing  that  there  are  none  under  the  influence  of  which, 
the  proceedings  of  a  new  and  free  government  can 
more  aufpicioufly  commence/' 

■  ■■  —  .i  « •  mtm 

Note  (  F  )  page  43. 

WASHINGTON’S  Letter  of  Acceptance  as  Commander 
in  Chief  of  the  American  Armies, 

Mount  Vsrnon,  13th  July,  1798. 

Dear  Sir, 

I  HAD  the  honor  on  the  evening  of  the  nth 
inftant,  to  receive  from  the  hand  of  the  Secretary  of 
War,  your  favor  of  the  7th,  announcing  that  you  had, 
with  the  advice  and  confent  of  the  Senate,  appointed 
me  “  Lieutenant*  Gen.  and  Commander  in  Chief  of  all 
the  Armies  raifed,  or  to  be  railed  for  the  fervice  of  the 
United  States.” 

I  cannot  exprefs  how  greatly  af&dedl  acn  at  this 
new  proof  of  public  confidence,  and  the  highly  flatter¬ 
ing  manner  in  which  you  have  been  pleafed  to  make 
the  communication  ;  at  the  fame  time  I  mud  not  con¬ 
ceal  from  you  my  earned  wifh,  that  the  choice  had 
fallen  upon  a  man  iefs  declined  in  year?,  and  bettez 
qualified  to  encounter  the  ufual  vicifiitudes  of  war. 

You  know,  Sir,  what  calculation  I  have  made  re¬ 
lative  to  the  probable  courfe  of  events,  on  my  retiring 
from  office,  and  the  determination  I  had  confoled  my- 
fclf  with,  of  doling  the  remnant  of  my  days  in  my 
prefent  peaceful  abode  ;  you  will  therefore  be  at  no 
lofs  to  conceive  and  appreciate  the  fenfaiions  I  mud 
have  experienced,  to  bring  my  mind  to  any  conclufton 
that  would  pledge  me,  at  fo  late  a  period  of  life,  to 
leave  feenes  I  fmcereiy  love,  to  enter  upon  the  bound- 
tefs  field  of  public  adion,  incefTant  trouble,  and  high 
refponfibiiity. 

It  was  not  poffible  for  me  to  remain  ignorant  of, 
or  indifferent  to,  recent  tranfaftions.  The  condufl 
•f  the  Directory  cf  France  towards  our  country— ihek 


APPENDIX. 


-39 

infidious  hoftility  to  its  government — their  various 
pra&icei  to  withdraw  the  affections  of  the  people  from 
it — the  evident  tendency  of  their  afts  and  thofe  of 
their  agents,  to  countenance  and  invigorate  oppofition 
• — their  difregard  of  folemn  treaties  and  the  laws  of 
nations — their  war  upon  oar  defencciefs  commerce — - 
their  treatment  of  our  miniders  cf  peace,  and  their  de= 
maads,  amounting  to  tribute,  could  not  fail  to  excite 
in  me,  correfponding  fentiments  with  thofe  my  coun¬ 
trymen  have  fo  generally  expreffed  in  their  affectionate 
addreffes  to  you*  Believe  me.  Sir,  no  one  can  more 
cordially  approve  of  the  wife  and  prudent  meafures  of 
your  adminiftration.  They  ought  to  infpire  univer¬ 
sal  confidence,  and  will,  no  doubt,  combined  with  the 
Bate  of  things,  call  from  Congrefs  fuch  laws  and  means 
as  will  enable  you  to  meet  the  full  force  and  extent  of 
the  crifis.^ 

Satisfied,  therefore,  that  you  have  fincerely  wish¬ 
ed  and  endeavored  to  avert  war,  and  exhaufted,to  the 
laft  drop,  the  cup  of  reconciliation,  we  can  with  pure 
hearts  appeal  to  Heaven  for  the  juftice  of  our  caufe  ; 
and  may  confidently  truft  the  final  refult  to  that  kind 
Providence  who  has  heretofore,  and  fo  often,  fignally 
favored  the  people  of  thefe  United  States. 

Thinking  in  this  manner,  and  feeling  how  in¬ 
cumbent  it  is  upon  every  perfon,  of  every  defeription, 
to  contribute  at  all  times  to  his  country’s  welfare,  and 
efpecially,  in  a  moment  like  the  prefent,  when  every 
thing  we  hold  dear  and  facred,  is  fo  ferioufly  threat¬ 
ened  ;  I  have  finally  determined  to  accept  thecommif- 
fion  of  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  Armies  uf  the 
United  States ;  with  the  referve  only,  that  I  (hall  not 
be  called  into  the  field  until  the  army  is  in  a  fituation 
to  require  my  prefence,  or  it  becomes  indifpenfable  by 
the  urgency  of  circumstances. 

In  making  this  refervation,  I  heg  it  to  be  under- 
flood,  that  I  do  not  mean  to  withhold  any  ailifUnce  to 
arrange  and  organize  the  army,  which  you  may  think 
I  can  afford,  i  take  the  liberty  alfo  to  mention  that 


APPENDIX. 


i&4<3 

7  muft  decline  having  my  acceptance  confidered  as 
draw  ing  after  it  any  immediate  charge  upon  the  public, 
or  that  I  can  receive  any  emoluments  annexed  to  the 
appointment,  before  entering  into  a  fituation  to  incur 
expenfe. 

The  Secretary  of  War  being  anxious  to  return  to 
the  Scat  of  Government,  I  have  detained  him  no 
longer  than  was  neceffary  to  a  full  communication 
upon  the  feveral  points  he  had  in  charge. 

With  very  great  refpeft,  I  have  the 
honor  to  be,  Sec, 

Go.  WASHINGTON. 

Joh n  Adams, 

Prefident  of  the  United  States. 

- - — 

EXTRACTS  FROM 

General  Washington  s  Will. 

I,  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  of  IVbunt- 
Vernon,  a  Citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  lately 
Prefident  of  the  fame,  Do  make,  ordain,  and  declare 
this  inftrument,  which  is  written  with  my  own  hand,* 
and  every  page  thereof  fubfciibed  with  my  name,  to 
be  my  lad  Will  and  Teftament,  revoking  ail  others. 

Imprimis,  All  my  debts,  of  which  there  arc  but 
few,  and  none  of  magnitude,  are  to  be  pun&uaHy  and 
fpeedily  paid  :  and  the  Legacies  herein  after  bequeath¬ 
ed,  are  to  be  difeha-rged  as  foon  as  circumdances  will 
permit,  and  in  the  manner  directed. 

Item .  To  my  dearly  beloved  wife,  Martha  VVaJb- 
ingtofi,  I  give  and  bequeath  the  ufe,  profit,  and  benefit 
of  my  whole  Eftate,  real  and  perf  nal,  for  the  term  of 
her  natural  life,  except  fuch  parts  thereof  as  are 

*  In  the  original  mannfcripG  GEORGE  WASH* 
tNQ  ION  was  writ i cii  at  the  bottom  of  every  page* 


24 I 


APPENDIX. 

fpecially  difpofed  of  hereafter. — My  improved  Lot  in 
the  town  of  Alexandria,  fituated  on  Pitt  and  Cameion 
ftreets,  I  give  to  her  and  her  heirs  for  ever  ;  as  I  alfo 
da  my  Houlhold  and  Kitchen  Furniture  of  every  fort 
and  kind,  with  the  Liquors  and  Groceries  which  may 
be  on  hand  at  the  time  of  my  deceafe,  to  be  ufed  and 
difpofed  of  as  (he  may  think  proper. 

Item,  Upon  the  deceafe  of  my  wife,  it  is  my 
will  and  defire, -that  ail  the  Slaves  which  I  hold  in  my 
*von  right  ihall  receive  their  freedom.  To  emancipate 
them  during  her  life,  would,  though  earneftly  wilhcd 
by  me,  be  attended  with  fuch  infuperable  difficulties 
on  account  of  their  intermixture  by  marriages  with 
the  dower  Negroes,  as  to  excite  the  moft  painful  fen- 
fations,  if  not  difagreeable  confequences  from  the  lat¬ 
ter  while  both  defcriptions  are  in  the  occupancy  of 
the  fame  proprietor;  it  not  being  in  my  power,  un¬ 
der  the  tenure  by  which  the  dower  Negroes  are  held* 
to  manumit  them.  And  'whereas,  among  thofe  who 
will  receive  freedom  according  to  this  devife,  there: 
may  be  fome  who  from  old  age  or  bodily  infirmities, 
and  others  who,  on  account  of  their  infancy,  that  will 
be  unable  to  fupport  therafelves,  it  is  my  will  and  de¬ 
li  re  that  all  who  come  under  the  full  and  fecond  de» 
feription,  (hall  be  comfortably  clothed  and  fed  by  my 
heirs  while  they  live  ;  and  that  fuch  of  the  latter  de- 
fetiption  as  have  no  parents  living,  or  if  living,  are 
unable  or  unwilling  to  provide  for  them,  fhall  be  bound 
by  the  court  until  they  {hall  arrive  at  the  age  of  twen¬ 
ty*  five  years  ;  and  in  cafes  where  no  record  can  be 
produced,  whereby  their  ages  can  be  afeertained,  the 
judgment  ot  the  court  upon  its  own  view  of  the  fub- 
ject,  (hall  be  adequate  and  final.  The  Negroes  thus 
bound,  are  (by  their  makers  or  mi  ft  relies)  to  be  taught 
to  read  and  write,  and  to  be  brought  up  to  fome  ufe- 
ful  occupation,  agreeably  to  the  laws  of  the  common¬ 
wealth  of  Virginia,  providing  for  the  fupport  of 
orphan  and  other  poor  children — And  I  do  hereby  ex- 
prefily  forbid  the  fale  or  transportation  out  of  the  (aid 


A  P  P  END  11. 


242 

commonwealth  of  any  Slave  I  may  die  pcffefled  of  un¬ 
der  any  prefence  whatfocver.  And  I  do  moreover, 
moil  pointedly  and  moft  folemnly  enjoin  it  upon  my 
Executors  hereafter  named  or  the  furvivor  of  them,  to 
fee  that  this  claufe  refpe&ing  Slaves  and  every  part 
thereof,  be  religiouHy  fulfilled  at  the  epoch  at  which 
it  is  dire&ed  to  take  place,  without  evafion,  negieff, 
or  delay,  after  the  crops  which  may  then  be  cn  the 
ground  are  harvdlcd,  particularly  as  it  refpefts  the 
aged  and  infirm  ;  feeing  that  a  regular  and  permanent 
fund  be  eftablifhed  for  their  fupport  as  long  a3  there 
are  fubjefis  requiring  it  j  not  trufting  to  the  uncertain 
provifion  to  be  made  by  individuals : — And  to  my 
mulatto  man  William ,  (calling  himfelf  William  Lee)  I 
give  immediate  freedom,  or  if  he  fhculd  prefer  it  (on 
account  of  the  accidents  which  have  befallen  him  and 
which  have  rendered  him  incapable  of  walking  or  of 
any  active  employment)  to  remain  in  the  fituation  he 
now  is,  it  fhall  be  optional  in  him  to  do  fo ;  in  either 
cafe  however,  I  allow  him  an  annuity  of  Thirty  Dol¬ 
lars  during  his  natural  life,  which  fhall  be  independent 
cf  the  vi&uals  and  deaths  he  has  been  accuftomcd  to 
receive  if  he  chufes  the  laft  alternative  ;  but  in  full 
with  his  freedom,  if  he  prefers  the  firft  :  And  this  I 
give  him  as  a  teftirnony  of  my  fenfe  of  his  attachment 
to  me,  and  for  his  faithful  fervices  during  the  Revolu¬ 
tionary  War. 

Item*  WHEREAS  by  a  law  of  the  Common¬ 
wealth  of  Virginia,  ena&ed  in  the  year  1785,  the 
Legiflature  thereof  was  pleafed  (as  an  evidence  of  it* 
approbation  of  the  fervices  1  had  rendered  the  public, 
during  the  Revolution,  and  partly,  I  believe,  in  con- 
lideration  of  my  having  fnggefted  the  vail  advantages 
which  the  community  would  derive  from  the  extenfion 
of  its  inland  navigation  under  Lcgiflative  patronage) 
to  prefent  me  with  one  hundred  fhares,  of  one  hundred 
dollars  each,  in  the  incorporated  company,  eftablifhed 
for  the  purpofeof  extending  the  navigation  of  James 
River,,  from  tide  water  to  the  mountains  \ — and  alf* 


APPENDIX. 


243 

with  fifty  fhares  of  one  hundred  pounds  fterling  each, 
in  the  corporation  of  another  company  likewife  eftab- 
lifhed  for  the  fimilar  purpofe  of  opening  the  naviga¬ 
tion  of  the  river  Potomac,  from  tide  water  to  Fort 
Cumberland;  the  acceptance  of  which,  although  the 
offer  was  highly  honorable  and  grateful  to  my  feelings, 
was  refufoi  as  inconfiftent  with  a  principle  which  I 
had  adopted,  and  had  never  departed  from— Namely — 
not  to  receive  pecuniary  compenfatioa  for  any  Cervices 
I  could  render  my  country  in  its  arduous  ftruggle  with 
Great  Britain  for  its  rights  :  and  becaufe  I  had  evaded 
fimilar  propositions  from  other  States  in  the  Union, 
Adding  to  this  refufal,  however,  an  intimation  that, 
if  it  thould  be  the  pleafure  of  the  Legiflature  to  per¬ 
mit  me  to  appropriate  the  faid  (hares  to  Puplic  ufes, 
I  would  receive  them  on  thofe  terms  with  due  fenfi- 
bility  ;  and  this  it  having  conferred  to,  in  flattering 
terms,  as  will  appear  by  a  fubfequent  kw  and  fundry 
refolutions,  in  the  mo  ft  ample  and  honorable  manner, 
I  proceed  after  this  recital,  for  the  more  correct  under- 
Han ding  of  the  cafe,  to  declare — Tint  as  it  has  always 
been  a  fource  of  ferious  regret  with  me  to  fee  the 
Youth  of  thefe  United  States  feat  to  Foreign  Coun¬ 
tries  for  the  purpofe  of  Education,  often  before  their 
minds  were  formed,  or  they  had  imbibed  any  adequate 
ideas  of  the  happinefs  of  their  own;  contrafling  too 
frequently,  not  only  habits  of  diftipation  and  extra¬ 
vagance,  but  principles  unfriendly  to  Republican 
G  overnment,  and  to  the  true  and  genuine  liberties  of 
mankind  ;  which,  thereafter  arc  rarely  overcome.— 
For  thefe  rsafons  it  has  been  my  ardent  vvifh  to  fee  a 
plan  devifed  on  a  liberal  fcale  which  would  inve  a  ten¬ 
dency  to  fpread  fyftematic  ideas  through  all  parts  of 
this  rifiog  empire,  thereby  to  do  away  local  attach¬ 
ments  and  date  prejudices,  as  far  as  the  nature  of  things 
would,  or  indeed  ought  to  admit,  from  our  National 
Councils. — Looking  anxioufly  forward  to  the  accom¬ 
plishment  of  fo  defirable  an  object  as  this  is,  (in  my 
eftiraatian)  ray  naiad  has  not  been  able  to  contemplate 


£44 


APPENDIX, 


any  plan  more  likely  to  effl-ft  the  meafure  than  the 
eftabliftiment  of  a  UNIVERSITY  in  a  central  part  of 
the  United  States,  to  which  the  Youths  of  fortune  and 
talents  from  all  parts  thereof  might  be  fent  for  the  com¬ 
pletion  of  their  Education  in  ail  the  branches  of  polite 
literature  ;  ia  arts  and  fciences,  in  acquiring  know¬ 
ledge  in  the  principles  of  politics  and  good  government, 
and  (as  a  matter  of  infinite  importance  in  my  judgment) 
by  ailbeiating  with  each  other  and  forming  friendlhips 
in  J  uvenile  years,  be  enabled  to  free  themfelves  in  a 
proper  degree  from  thofe  local  prejudices  and  habitual 
jealoufiea  which  have  juft  been  mentioned  ;  and  which, 
when  carried  toexcefs,  are  never  failing  fources  of  dif- 
quietude  to  the  public  mind,  and  pregnant  of  mifchc- 
vious  confequences  to  this  country  ;  under  thefe  im- 
prefiions,  fo  fully  dilated. 

Item .  I  give  and  bequeath  in  perpetuity  the 
Fifty  Shares  which  I  hold  in  :he  Patowmac  Company 
(under  the  aforefaid  afb  of  the  Leg' fUture  of  Virginia) 
towards  the  endowment  of  a  UNIVERSITY  to  be 
eftablilhed  within  the  limits  of  the  Diftridl  of  Colum¬ 
bia,  under  the  aufpices  of  the  general  government,  if 
that  government  fhouid  incline  to  extend  a  foftering 
hand  towards  it ;  and  until  fuch  feminarv  is  eftahlifhed, 
and  the  funds  arifing  on  thefe  Chares  fhall  be  required 
for  its  fupport,  my  further  will  and  desire  is,  that 
the  profit  accruing  therefrom  (hall,  whenever  the  divi¬ 
dends  are  made,  belaid  out  in  purchafmg  Stock  in 
the  Bank  of  Columbia,  or  fome  other  Bank,  at  the 
difcrction  of  my  Executors,  or  by  the  Treafurer  c.f  the 
United  States  for  the  time  being,  under  the  diredlion 
of  Cong  refs — provided  that  honorable  body  fhotild 
petronixe  the  meafure,  and  the  dividends  proceeding 
from  the  purchafc  of  fnch  Stock  is  to  be  veiled  in  mors 
Stock,  and  fo  on,  until  a  fum,  adequate  to  the  accom- 
plifhment  of  theobjedl,  h  obtained  ;  of  which  I  have 
not  the  fmalleft  doubt,  before  many  years  psfs  away, 
even  if  no  aid  or  encouragement  ia  given  by  Legifla- 
litre  authority,  or  from  any  other  fourcc* 


APPENDIX.  C45 

Item,  The  hundred  Shares  which  I  hold  in  the 
James  River  Company,  1  have  given,  and  now  con¬ 
firm  in  perpetuity,  to  and  for  the  nfe  and  benefit  of 
Liberty  Hall  Academy,  in  the  County  of  Rockbridge, 
in  the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia. 

Item,  To  the  Earl  of  Buchan  I  recommit 
e(  the  Box  made  of  the  Oak  that  fhelrered  the  great 
Sir  William  Wallace  after  the  B rule  of  Falkirk" — 
prefented  to  me  by  his  Lordfhip,  iu  terms  too  flatter¬ 
ing  for  me  to  repeat,  with  a  rcqueft  f(  to  pafs  it,  on 
the  event  of  my  deceafe,  to  the  man  in  my  country, 
who  fhouid  appear  to  merit  it  befl,  upon  the  fame 
conditions  that  have  induced  him  to  fend  it  to  me." 
Whether  eafy  or  not,  to  fele<ft  the  Man  who  might 
comport,  with  his  Lordfnip’s  opinion  in  this  refpedl, 
is  not  for  me  to  fay  ;  but  conceiving  that  no  difpofi- 
tion  of  this  valuable  curiofity  can  be  more  eligible 
than  the  recommitment  of  it  to  his  own  cabinet, 
agreeable  to  the  original  deflgn  of  the  Goldfmiths' 
Company  of  Edinburgh,  who  prefented  it  to  him, 
and,  at  his  requeft,  confented  that  it  fhouid  be  tranf- 
ferred  to  me — I  do  give  and  bequeath  the  fame  to  hh 
Lord (h ip  ;  and,  in  cafe  of  his  deceafe,  to  his  heir, 
with  my  grateful  thanks  for  the  diftinguifhed  honor 
of  prefcnting  it  to  me,  and  more  efpecially  for  the 
favorable  fentiments  with  which  he  accompanied  ir. 

Item.  To  my  Brother,  Charles  Wajkingtou,  I 
give  and  bequeath  the  Gold  headed  Cane  left  me  by 
Dr.  Franklin,  in  his  Will*  ( See  lajl  page  in  this  boch.J 

Item .  To  my  Nephews.  William  Augufiine  Wajh - 
ington ,  George  Lewis,  George  Step  toe  Wafhington,  Bujhrod 
W ajh  in gt  on ,  and  Samuel  Wa/h ington,  1  give  one  of  the 
Swords  or  Cutteaux,  of  which  I  may  die  poflefled  : 
And  they  arc.  to  choofe  in  the  order  they  are  named.— 
Thefe  Swords  are  accompanied  with  an  injunction  not 
tounfheath  them  for  the  purpofe  of  fhedriir.g  blood, 
except  it  he  for  felf- defence  or  in  defence  of  thetx 
country  and  its  rights ;  and  in  the  latter  cafe,  to  keep 
them  unftieathed,  and  prefer  falling  with  them  in  ihtirv 
hands  to  the 'Relinquifhment  thereof, 

Yz. 


APPENDIX. 


24  6 

The  Family  V  .u!t  a*  Mount  Vernon,  requiring  re¬ 
pair*,  being  improperly  fituated  betides,  I  defirc 
that  a  ,iew  one  -f  brick,  and  upon  a  larger  fcale,  may 
be  bn  It  nr  the  fo  >t  of  what  is  commonly  called  the 
Vineyard  Inc!  fure,  on  rhe  ground  which  is  marked 
out  — In  which  my  Remains,  with  thofe  of  my  deceas¬ 
ed  relations*  (now  in  the  old  Vault)  and  fuch  others  of 
m,  Fa  oilv  a.',  may  chafe  to  be  entombed  there,  may  be 
acp  filed.  And  it  is  my  expmfs  defire,  that  my  Corps 
may  be  interred  in  a  private  manner,,  without  parade 
OI  fa  rural  O  uion. 

Lastly,  l  conftitute  and  appoint  my  dearly  be¬ 
loved  *Vif-  Martha  Wajhmgton,  my  Nephews  William 
Augufrne  Wajhington ,  bujhrod  Wajhington ,  George  Step- 
ioe  IV a jh in g ion,  Samu ■  l  Washington ,  and  Lawrence 
Lewis  s  and  my  Ward  George  Washington  Parke  Cuftis9 
(  hen  he  (hall  have  arrived  at  the  age  of  Twenty 
Year  )  Execrntiix  and  Executors  of  this  WILL  and 
TESTAMENT- — In  lhc  conftrufrion  of  which,  it  will 
readily  be  perceived  that  no  profeffional  charafler  has 
been  eonful  ed,  or  has  had  any  agency  in  the  draught, 
and  hit  although  it  lias  occupied  many  of  my  leifure 
hours  to  digeft.  and  to  throw  it  into  its  prefent  form,  it 
may,  notwrhftanding,  appear  crude  and  incorrefl — but 
having  endeavored  to  be  plain  and  explicit  in  all  the 
devifes,  even  at  the  expence  of  prolixity,  perhaps  of 
lautobgv,  I  hope  and  cruft  that  no  difputes  will  arife 
concerning  them  ;  but  if,  contrary  to  expedition,  the 
cafe  fhould  be  other  wife  from  the  want  of  legal  expref- 
fion,  or  the  ufual  technical  terms,  or  becaufe  too  much 
or  too  little  has  been  faid  on  any  of  the  devifes  to  bs 
confonant  with  law,  my  will  and  direflion  exprefsly  is, 
that  all  difputes  (if  unhappily  any  fhould  arife)  /hall  be 
decided  by  three  impartial, and  intelligent  men,  known 
for  their  probity  and  good  underftaading — two  to  be 
chefen  by  the  difputants,  each  having  the  choice  of 
one,  and  the  third  by  thofe  two— which  three  men 
thuschofen  fnall,  unfettered  by  law  or  legal  conduc¬ 
tions,  declare  the  fenfe  of  the  Tcftator's  intentions ; 
And  fuch  decifioa  is,  ro  all  intents  and  purpofes,  to  be 

binding  on  the  parties  as  if  it  had  been  given  in  the 
Supreme  Court  of  tit#  United  States* 


Subjcribers’  Names . 


RHODEISLAND.Catr  William  Pitt  Gorton  Uriah 


Atwood  Sheffield 
Almy  Chrsftopher 
Anthony  Wm.jr. 
Allen  Thomas 
Albro  John 
At  well  Amos  M» 
Allen  William 
Brown  Arthur 
Billings  Abby 
Billings  Phebe 
Barker  Daniel  W, 
Baker  Andrew 
Blifs  Jeremiah 
Burrnl  William 
Brown  Peleg 
Brown  Henry 
Bofworth  Jofeph 
Bowen  James 
Burr  Shubael 


Coats  Martin  Gardiner  John 
Church  William  Gardiner  Warren 
Crary  Frederic.  Gardiner  Amas 
Clark  Parker  Hopkins  Sam.  Reva 
Cornell  Stephen  B.  Hudfon  Sam.  G® 
Carpenter  J.O.W.  Hart  Relcom 
Champiin  H,  G.  Hazard  John,  jr* 
Champlin  William  Hazard  Robert 


Clarke  Thomas 
Carr  John 
Coe  Adam  S. 
Carter  William 
Crary  P«ter 


Hazard  Nathan  Go 
Helme  James,  jr, 
Hamlin  William 
Hazard  Eafton 
Hiller  Timothy 
Goodrich  Edward  Haley  Samuel 
Crowel  Jofnua  Heaton  David  loo 
Davenport  Charles  Irifh  Jefeph 
Danten  George  Irifb  John 
Dunham  Charles  Ingraham  Watfon 


Downs  Samuel 
Defter  Noah 


Babcock  Rowland 
Brown  Rowland 
Brown  Geo.  Efq. 

Brown  William 
Banifter  John,jr. 

Bourn  Zuriel  Farnfworth  H 
Coddtngton  Ed*.  Fow]er  John 

Fry  Thomas 


Edwards  Clark 
Earl  John,  jr. 
Eddy  Zechariah 
Fairbanks  Benj. 
Feke  Charles 


Cutter  Thomas 
Clarke  Phineas 
Cory  Abraham 
Center  Jame3 
Cornell  Walter 
Carr  Samuel  E, 


Fi(h  Thomas  jun. 
Gardner  Sam.  F. 
Gates  A  fa 
Gaillard  Peter 


Jack  Alexander, jra 
King  David  Dr, 
Knowles  Jofeph 
Knowles  John 
Lyman  Daciel,Efq. 
Lyon  jofeph 
Littlefield  George 
Langley  J  ohn 
Dr.  Luther  Nathaniel 
Lillibridge  Hamp* 
Lawton  Robert,  jr® 
Lawton  Nich.  E* 
Lawton  Samuel 
Lawton  jofeph 
Luther  Jofeph  H, 


SUBSCRIBERS’  NAMES, 


Mnmford  Pau-l.Efq.  Stanton  Benjamin  Cothone  Thom.  H# 
Martitord  B.  B.  2  ShtfHc-id  Benj.  J.  Campbell  Arch. 
Mumford  Paul  M.  Sjciuth wick  Rem.  Cuinmack  Wm. 


Mumfoid  Wm.  P.  Taylor  James 
Mum  ford  Jofeph  Tripp  William 
Mtiruf  ird  J‘»hn  'Tilley  Jame3 
Mumfoid  James  Tayer  Paul 
Melvill  Thomas  2 
Mur  fey  J  hn  Taylor  Peter 

Marfhali  Benjamin  Tourtellot  Afahel 
Moore  William,  jr.  Waldron  Nath’i 
Moore  Henry  Witcox  Ifrael 

Mathewlon  Daniel  Weaver  James 


Mathewfon  Noel 
Martin  Nath'i  A, 
Nichols  Peter 
Potter  Henry 
Perry  Robert 
Pierce  John 
Paul  Jofeph  W. 
Perry  George 
Place  Samuel 


Cavan  Michael 
Cor. per  John 
Chaining  Henry 
Deans  Jufiah  L, 
Tillinghaft  Tho’s  Duirn  John 

Dana  Pninehas  3 
Filk  Martin 
Farmar  Robert 
Fitzgerald  M. 
Hague  James 
Woodward  Robert  Hiort  Henry 
Wanton  James  Harrifior.  B. 
Weight  man  Benj,  Herron  James 
Wing  John  jun.  Fleath  James  P. 

Wing  Elifha  Hansford  Cary  ll>. 

Wilder  William  R.  Herron  Walter 
Yeomans  John  Hunter  James 

NORFOLK 


Potter  Samuel  R,  Archer  Richard  C.  Holt  Henry 


Potter  Jere.  N. 

Perry  ). 

Perry  Sarah 
Pollock  Jere.  W. 

Reed  Abraham 
Read  John 
Robinfon  John,  jr.  Brown  John 
Spooner  Wing  Burcher  John 


Archer  Samael  B.  Hudfon  Edward 
Armiftead  R.  M.  Harrifon  S.  S 
Armiftead  William  Hamilton  John  3 


Algers  Mofes  2 
Archer  William 
Afhiey  Warren  2 


Stoddard  S,  jr. 
Sayer  Lewis 
Sherman  P 
Shaw  William 
Stacy  Jofhua 


Bennett  James  2 
Beal  George 
B^kcr 


Hutchings  John 
Ingram  John 
Jennings  Thomas 
Johnfton  Edward 
1  ohnfon  Peter  R. 
Jordan  A.  C. 
Loyall  George 
Lee  Richard  E. 


Ha  ace 

Bowden  Richard  Margiil  N. 
Burke.&  Pvoane  Macgowand  Joh» 

Stanhope  Edward  Brown  Thomas  Meredith  William 

Sands  Nath’l  G.  Blanchard  T.  2  Mackinder  Win. K 

Sprague  Vernon  Burns  Archibald  MrCandlifh  Wtij 

Smith  Nathaniel  Bentley  William  H. Maurice  James 
Sauford  Pelcg  2  Cocke  Butler 


SUBSCRIBERS'  NAMES, 


Nimmo  James  3 
Newton  Tho.  jun, 
Neal  John  T. 
Nivifon  John 
O’Connor  Taaffe 
Pollard  B.&Co.  12 
Proudfit  John 
Permock  William 
Proby  Paul 
Roberts  Edward 
Randolph  John 
Rainbow  Tho.  12 
Pvead  J.  K. 
Richardfon  Tho, 
Sinclair  Arthur 
Storey  Thomas 
Stratton  John 
Steadman  John 
Smith  Samuel 
Steadman  Thomas 
Tailor  F.  S. 
Thomfon  William 
Taylor  Robert  B. 
Taylor  Richard 
Thorburn  James 
Tompkins  Chrifio, 
Talley  Elkanah 
Vaughan  James 
Wheeler  Luke 
Wiilock  Thomas 
Willett  Charles 
Whithcad  Jame3 
Whittle  Conway 
Willfbn  Georgs 
Wiilfon  John 
Watlington  J.  W. 
Young  Charles 

ALB  ANY  (N.  T.J 

Barney  A. fa  C« 


Cumftock  Aaron 
Drake  Francis 
Davis  Henry 
Fitfgerald  Edmund 
Marbin  John 
Nurham  Henry 
Palmer  Bcriah 
Peck  Abijah 
Porter  Elijah 
Rofevelt  Nicholas 
Rogers  A.  Rev,. 
Swart  Dirch 
Strong  William 
Snyder  Rudolph 
Schuyler  Philip  H. 
Smith  Jofeph 
Shields  Daniel 
Smith  Warren 
Tiller  William 
Ten  Broeck  John 
Van  Antwerp  D.L 
Wiilard  Elias 
Williams  John  F. 

CHARLESTON 
fS.  Carolina. ) 

A  fib.  Lib.  Society 
Anneliy  George 
Bacor  Thomas  W, 
Butler  Anthony 
Bee  John  S. 

Bailey  Gabriel 
Bounetheau  G.M. 
B>cot  Henry  H. 
Butler  William 
Barker  Jofeph  S. 
Clement  Thomas 
Oogdcll  John  S, 
Crocker  Dodridge 
Cox  Thomas  C, 


Cannon  Daniel 
Dickmfon  Samuel 
Duncan  James 
Daniel  Edward  % 
Defaufiure  H.  Wft, 
lord  Timothy 
Giles  Othniel  Ja 
Geddes  John 
Hall  William 
Hanell  Thomas 
Hazel!  George  B3 
Ingltlby  John 
Lawrence  Rob.  D3 
M‘Farlan  Andrew 
Muir  head  James 
M‘Lean  Evean 
North  John  B. 
North  Richard  B;. 
Parker  Samuel 
Perry  Luthan 
.Peace  Jofeph 
Peace.  I  faac 
Pelfch  Julius 
Richardfon  Chare 
Rees  William 
Reid  George 
Sh'ewfbury  Step, 
Sabb  John 
Simons  James  Ds 
Taney  Francis  L, 
Tucker  Nicholas 
Taylor  J.  G. 
Webb  Daniel  C, 
Wrainch  John 
Yeadon  William, 

HUDSON  (NS.) 
Adams  John 
Cady  Benjamm  ' 
Daken  Paul 


SUBSCRIBERS*  NAMES, 


Dorlar  Robert 
Gelfton  Cotten 
Gardincar  Barcent 
Mogeboom  Ke!. 
James  Seth 
Miller  Stephen 
Nefs  John  D.  Vn. 
Parker  Phillip  S. 
Stores  Anureal 
Ten  Brock  P.  B. 
Webb  Samuel  B. 

NEWBURGH, 
( N.  York. ) 

Barber  Jofeph  W. 
Brown  John 
Burns  T. 

Carter  Jonathan 
C  ooper  Gilbert 
Carter  Lewis 
Coker  J  ames 
Denikon  &  Abber 
[Cromie 
Dodge  Levi 
Downs  John 
HofFsman  Jofeph 
Hamilton  J  ames 
Hamilton  Ifaac 
Harris  John 
Herd  man  John 
Jones  R.obert  W, 
Kerr  Robert  Rev. 
Moncll  George 
Niven  Daniel  jun. 
Omermun  Derick 
O'Gregory  Sam. 
Scot  Alexander 
Shaw  John 

Seijghs  S, 


Sacket  W.  N. 
Thompfon  Antho. 
Van  Home  F.Rev. 
Walfh  Hugh 

h\  HARTFORD 
(  Conn.) 

Brinfmade  Tho.C. 
Bid  well  Ifaac 
Brown  John 
Cadwell  Piiir.eas 
Cowles  Theodore 
Clark  Gamaliel 
Drigs  Martin 
Darning  Andrew 
Goodwin  W.n, 

J  ones  Ihracl 
Lewis  Miles 
Lovett  Samuel 
Merrell  Aaron 
Pnelps  Noah  A. 
Setkin  Timothy 
Spencer  George 
Sadd  Harvey 
Sandiforth  D.  W. 
Watfon  Zachariah 
Webb  John 
Welle3  John 
Welles  James 

HANOVER 
(N.  H.) 

Baldwin  Jedediah 
Burbeck  William 
Bradley  Samuel 
Bifiell  Ifaac 
Cobb  Nathan 
Cabot  Sabaftian  C. 
Cary  J  ohn  F, 


Clark  Benjamin 
Crane  John  H, 
Davis  Mofcs 
Dewey  Samuel 
Eafhnan  T  ilton 
Gilbert  Benj.  J. 
Hutchinfon  Aaroa 
Hall  William  jun. 
Hall  Frederic 
Hotchkifs  Eliflia 
Hatch  Reuben 
Kimball  Increafe 
Kingibary  S.  j*n, 
Leavitt  Eraftus 
Mansfield  John 
M’Clure  Samuel 
Nye  John 
Olcott  Mills 
Ofgood  Thadeuy 
Parker  Daniel 
Pomroy  Hemaa 
Spooner  Amafa 
Sherman  Thadeus 
Stores  David 
Turner  Robert 
Woodward  B. 
Wood  ward  Win, 
Wood  ward  Bezs.. 
Woodward  J.  W* 
Wilcox  Jeduthan 

NE  WLONDO  ;} 

(  Virginia.) 

Auk  in  Robert 
Blair  D.  Rev. 
Brahan  John 
Brown  James 
Brewer  Jolm  H. 
Callaway  Jeremiah 


SUBSCRIBERS*  NAMES. 


Clayton  Wm,  W. 
Clemens  Samuel 
Clark  M. 

Clark  James 
Capron  I.  Dcd. 
Hook  Henry 
Holt  Thomas 
Irvine  William 
King  William 
Leafs  Thomas 
Lee  Beverly 
Minor  William 
Penn  James 
Scruggs  Grofs 
Steptoc  Jame3 
Snoddy  Robert 
Slaughter  Jofeph 
Read  Thomas 
White  Samuel 

GEORGETOWN 

( S,  Carolina. ) 

xAUfton  Benjamin 
Brownfield  Robert 
Brown  Charles 
Blyth  Jofeph 
Crcfby  Mofes  G. 
Dannally  Patrick 
Davis  John 
Gourd  ire  Theo. 
Hercot  Robert 
Plercot  George 
Michau  P*ul 
Myers  Abraham 
Prior  David 
Pugh  Ez;a 
Rothmahler  Eraf. 
Trapier  Psul 
Trapier  Win,  W, 


RUTLAND  (Vcr. 

Baker  William  jr. 
Beech  Samuel 
Bates  Chriftopher 
Butl  Elias  jun, 
Cogfwell  Eli 
Denifon  Ifaac 
Fay  William 
Gove  Jdfe 
Hart  Lambord 
Hill  Frederick 
Hale  A  fa 
Hopkins  Hiram 
Molten  Abel 
Noble  Obadiah  jr. 
Nott  William 
Newcomb  Brad. 
Porter  Ezekiel 
Storer  William 
Walker  Samuel 
Williams  Solomon 
Willmot  Thomas 
Woodruff  Affier 

NANTUCKET 
(  MaJfa.J 
Briggs  Stephen 
Coffin  Simeon  jr.  2 
Cary  Richard 
Ccffin  William 
Coffin  Ifaac 
Coleman  David 
Folger  William 
Gardiner  Jared 
Gardiner  Lathtm 
Gelfton  Roland 
Joy  Thaddeus 
Norris  Charles 
Wale  at  Benjamin 


»  PLYMOUTH 


'•■Bartlett  Jofeph 
Bofworth  Ifaac 
Gotten  Jofiah 
Crcmbie  Calvin 
Davis  Samud 
Davis  William  jr. 
Goodwin  William 
Hammett  William 
Harlow  Jcffe 
Holmes  Heman 
Seymour  Bet  j. 
Turner  Lathrop 

BURLINGTON 
( Ne*w-  JerJeJ»J 

Archer  John 
Bloomfield  Maj.G» 
Crumpton  Wm. 
Elton  John  Efq. 
Mein  Andrew 
Neale  William  S» 
Neale  John  jun. 
Orleans  Vif.  de 
Smith  Jofeph 
Smith  Jonathan  F* 
Smith  Samuel 
Wat  fen  William 

ELIZABETH¬ 
TOWN  fN.  J.J 

Chapman  James 
Chet  wood  Wm. 
Douglafs  Lucius 
Dayton  H.  R. 
Ogden  George  M. 
Wilfon  George  M. 
William,  fun  W.  R* 


SUBSCRIBERS*  NAMES. 


GEORGETOWN  WOODSTOCK  Maltbie  David 
(Virginia,)  (Vermont.)  Mills  Alexander 


Bonre  Waftiington  Field  Martin 


Newman  Maltbie 


Farnfworth  A b'- jail  J*er.rF 
FarafWorth  Biel  ^'n'a1rdDIf?ac 
Harding  Timothy  ^<,fi;11d  Ru;us 
Haughton  Ifrael  I.  Waterbery  James 

Lachrop  John  Rev.  i INFIELD 

v  Morgan  Jofeph  (Cmn) 

Yoang  Henry  H.  Mawer  Henry  Allen  Benjamin 

Norton  Eltjah  Rev.chan,  ioaJ  E-  ■ 

Rtce  William  Go(d  ‘n  Daniel 
bimonds  John 


Green  well  Ger. 
M‘Laughlin  C. 
Smith  Clement 
Wilkinfon  Ben. 
W  harm  Adam 
Vinfon  Charles 


TAUNTON 
(  Majfc.) 

Bclkcom  David 
Canedy  Noble 
Cobb  Benjamin 
Hodges  James 
Siders  Martin 


Gibfon  James 
Hall  George  P, 
Oury  James 
Power  Lsvi 


STAMFORD 
(  Conn.) 

Davenport  Eben.  Perkins  George 
Gray  James  Tredway  Alfred 
Rev.  William  Rogers,  Philadelphia. 

Meftf.  Bailey  Waller  Sc  Bailey,  Charlefton  (S.  C.)  5©. 


THE  Editors  can  ofFer  no  other  apology  to 
thofe  Gentlemen  who  have  fubferibed,  and  whofe  names 
are  not  contained  in  the  foregoing  lift,  than  to  inform 
them,  that  only  about  thirty  fubfeription  papers  had  been 
returned,  on  the  commitment  of  this  (heet  to  the  prds, 
out  of  the  number  of  one  hundred  and  fifty ,  which  had 
been  circulated  in  various  parts  of  the  Union. 


(See  page  245’,  of  this  book.) 

*  My  fne  crab-tree  walking  flick,  with  a  gold  heetd 
curicufy  wrought  in  the  form  oj  the  cap  of  Liberty ,  1 
give  to  my  ftiend,  and  the  friend  of  mankind ,  General 
Wa  3HINGTON.  1 f  it  were  a  feeptre,  he  has  merited 
it ,  and  would  become  it%  (Dr.  Franklin’s  Will.) 


1 


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r.  . 


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( 


*  r 


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RARE  BOOK 
COLLECTION 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINA 
LIBRARY 

E312.3 

•M53 


I- 


